DIY Industrial Sconces

 

One of the things I am excited to share with you is the process of recreating our new-to-us home. Admittedly, the place is dated and a little too country for our liking, but it's nothing a few gallons of paint and some elbow grease can't fix. So, I've come up with a 'This Young House' series which will highlight some of the things we are doing {or having done when it's beyond our skill level}. Naturally, we have a laundry list of projects, large and small, but we've decided to start with the small ones and work on just a couple rooms at a time... but more on that later.

One of the first areas we decided to tackle was the master bedroom. We want the space to feel calm and almost cave-like while still seeming airy and welcoming. For us that means a neutral color palette, layers of linens on the bed, and a few meaningful, dramatic details.

As for lighting, we decided on sconces versus table lamps to save precious bedside real estate for books and water glasses. Most of the sconces we liked were on the pricier end, so we decided to recreate a version of these. The process was really quite simple once we figured out what supplies we needed. 

Supplies:
two steel brackets {not shown above}
two lamp sockets
two lamp cords
a pack of steel nipples {no snickering}
a back of hex nuts

Other master bedroom projects:
- WALL ART: I'm waiting for the autumn/winter collection of these decals. I want to place the decal on a piece of old wood stained the same color as our imaginary bench.

- PAINT: While we've already painted the walls what we thought was a silver grey, a darker slate grey will be going up in a few weeks.

- A BENCH: We are building a bench for the foot of the bed out of some leftover wood and hairpin legs.

- HARDWOODS: As I've mentioned before, the carpet in this room is heinous. Simply heinous, people.

- {FAUX} COWHIDE RUG: We're envisioning a unique, dramatic rug to place under the bed after our hardwoods make their appearance.

More home improvement projects are on the way. There are so many!
Happy Friday.
xoxo

copyright Hiking in Stilettos

Let There Be Life

When I was little some of my favorite days were spent in the garden with my mother. I loved trips to our local nursery where I would help her choose flowers, ferns and trees for our yard. We would pick out colors based on the season, grouping them together like making new friends. She was so patient with me, teaching me how to correctly pot the plants, and I had my own pair of child-size gloves and a set of garden tools. Our house was always filled with garden life, from potted house plants to vases of flowers from the gardens outside, so it's no surprise that I fill my own home the same way. I love being surrounded by elements of nature, beautiful living things that bring so much happiness to a room. 

 What is special to you that you bring into your home?

xoxo

copyright Hiking in Stilettos

Good Things

September has brought slightly cooler temperatures to the south, with daily highs in the low 80s and lows in the low 60s. The days have been gorgeous and filled with just a hint of summer. I am overly excited for crisp fall days and the upcoming holiday season, but this Indian summer is oh so lovely. So as I feel the season coming to a close, I've been spending most of my time trying to soak up as much of the summer as possible.

Also, still obsessing over chambray. I'm obsessed this top. And this one isn't too shabby either.

Happy weekend.

xoxo

copyright Hiking in Stilettos

Girlfriends

A couple weeks ago two of my girlfriends and I took a long weekend trip to Florida. After so many years of being in school and being unable to have girls trips, this was definitely a treat. My girl Kindredly and my college bestie Erin hung out for basically the first time on this trip, and it was so fun to have the two of them together. 

It's funny how much the three of us have in common, from superficial interests to deeply rooted character traits. We talked about fashion and style {naturally}, recipes and favorite foods, marriage and relationships, religion and family. We shared our favorite blogs, books and bands, and spent the majority of our time sunning and sipping from bubba kegs on the beach {when in Rome...}. It was a perfect girl's getaway, and I think it's safe to say we are all looking forward to next year's trip, {especially since this lady will be joining us!}.

xoxo

copyright Hiking in Stilettos

Beautiful Mess

So I unintentionally took a break from this space, but I'm not apologizing. I will, however, spare you the laundry list of things that have been overwhelming me lately. Suffice to say that I've been learning the art of patience and grace under fire these past few months, and I am finally realizing that my life needn't be perfect at all times. My house may be messy {but clean}, the bed may remain unmade. I might miss a workout to make a deadline or just because I want another hour of sleep. My outfit might not be perfect, and my hair may always be a bit messy. But it's okay.

Our messy bedroom at the end of the day. The carpet is heinous, and the walls are more blue than grey, despite my choice of a silver paint. I have too many ideas about what to hang over the bed, and new curtain rods are definitely in order.... but I'm learning to see things differently. I honestly love this space. It's where we seek solace, say I love yous, lay our heads each night, and welcome every new morning. Despite the room's shortcomings, I love it. We have years to recreate it, to mold it into something truly ours. 

I'm learning to let the small things go so that I don't miss out on the bigger, more important things. 

My life is a beautiful mess sometimes, but it sure is beautiful.

xoxo

copyright Hiking in Stilettos

Weekend Happiness

This past weekend husband and I took a lover's jaunt over to Athens to see one of our favorite artists - Alison Krauss and Union Station. Their songs remind me of early morning drives to North Georgia -- warming the truck in a pitch black morning, frost on the windshield and steaming coffee in hand, bleary-eyes from just a few hours sleep but so excited about the adventure ahead. They remind me of when we first realized our love for each other, the moment we decided that this was a forever thing, and they way love can be so simple sometimes, and so complicated at other times.

The show was incredible, simply put. There was no opening act, no frills. Just the band, the stage, and the packed theatre. The sound was crisp and pure, and amazingly, their voices sounded exactly like their albums. Had I not been able to see the stage so clearly, I could have been fooled into thinking we were listening to a CD. After the show we wandered around downtown Athens, reminiscing of our days in school there, my recent graduation, and our first 'official' date that occurred on a very similar night, so many years ago. We stopped at our favorite low-key hangout to watch the rest of the opening ceremonies, then made our way over to the inn where we stayed on our wedding night.

 Saturday morning we had breakfast at one of our favorite places {our other favorite didn't open til 10... apparently we're early birds} and made a quick Trader Joe's run before coming home to pick up our sweet pup. Honestly, I think we both missed him a little. It was good to be back home, even after just one night away.

What did you do this weekend that made you happy?

xoxo

copyright Hiking in Stilettos

Under the Weather

Last week was a complete blur of groggy days, stuffy noses, and shoulder pain. I shouldn't be surprised, really. The two weeks prior to my recent summer cold included pretty poor nutrition choices. I ate more sugar than I normally would, with a bowl of ice cream for dessert almost daily, and quite a few other not-so-great items. It's incredible how reintroducing sugar into your diet can alter the way you feel so dramatically. {read more on sugar tantrums here}

I finally went to see the chiropractor about a chronic shoulder issue that has recently flared up. It was a good visit, and she was able to 'unglue' some of the muscles in my shoulder, but the after effect was a 45-minute long muscle spasm and cramp the following day. Talk about intense. I've never experienced anything like that before, so needless to say, I was scared. I took the rest of the week off from working out, since even a light jog made the pain come back.

So here's to Monday. To making much better nutrition decisions {starting a whole 30 this week!}, to eating vegetables with each meal, to hitting the gym at least four times this week, and to pushing through this shoulder issue.

What are your goals for the week?

xoxo

copyright Hiking in Stilettos

A Madewell Fall

One of my favorite places to shop for unique, yet casual clothing is Madewell. The laid back vibe and free spirited style resonate with me, especially during the summer and fall. And since I've recently realized that I am truly Madewell girl at heart, here are some of my favorites from their fall lookbook.

xoxo

copyright Hiking in Stilettos

Paleo Lifestyle: Plan Ahead

One of the easiest ways to 'fall of the bandwagon' with clean eating so to speak is lack of planning. I find that Friday nights are usually the times we end up eating pizza or Japanese take out. Mostly because it's the end of the week, the fridge is getting bare, we are both tired after a long work week, and making dinner sounds like a new form of torture. In an effort to combat this, I try to plan a weekly menu and stock the fridge and pantry accordingly. In addition, I always keep a couple quick and easy options around for those torturous Friday evenings.

 1/2

1: Plan your menu for the week, dinner and lunch, and write it out {we write ours on the fridge}.

2: Stick to your menu. This keeps you on track. saves money and prevents food waste. 

3. Make extra servings of dinners and use them as lunch leftovers. OR make a big batch of paleo chili on Sunday to take for lunch during the week.

3: Stock your pantry and fridge with a couple of easy meals. Our go-to meals include frozen salmon {thaws quickly in cold water or you can cook it frozen}, organic no sugar added butternut squash soup {Imagine brand}, sweet potatoes and frozen spinach, tons of fresh veggies and eggs {instant frittata or bibimbap}.

4: Make sauces, spices, etc ahead of time. I usually make a big batch of different spice mixes about once a month and make mayonnaise and salad dressing about once a week.

Also, for those of you who are even more pressed for time or who need more help, how about an emeals subscription? {modified for paleo, of course}

Happy {meal} planning.

xoxo

copyright Hiking in Stilettos

Life

Things around these parts are a huge blur lately, so thanks for sticking in there. Lately I'm struggling to find the balance between finally starting my career, dedicating myself to achieving fitness goals, making intentional time for my girlfriends, a two hour total daily commute, and settling into a stable nutrition regimen. I'm exhausted just thinking about all of it. Don't fret, though. I've managed to have my share of fun along the way. I'm so thankful for an amazing job, an encouraging husband, understanding girlfriends, and a sweet pup to make my life so bright.

Nonetheless, I have some fun posts lined up for next week including an industrial sconce DIY and some of my new favorite paleo recipes. Hope you are having a great week. Half way to the weekend already!

xoxo

copyright Hiking in Stilettos

Summer Holiday(s)

Two of my favorite things - and mostly because it means time with husband, family, and friends.

A couple weeks ago we spent four blissful days in Gulf Shores, AL with husband's sister and her family. He spent the morning fishing out on the sea, and I passed the time devouring the 'Hunger Games' series leisurely reading on the porch or at the pool.

The week after we returned home, Kindredly and her husband JG came over for a mid-week July Fourth celebration. We had a pretty low-key evening, but managed a few all-American hamburgers, strawberry basil sangria, and a blueberry-blackberry crisp. The evening came to an early close with sparklers in the twilight.

Hope you had a very happy Independence Day.

xoxo

copyright Hiking in Stilettos

A Summer List

{via}

With the Fourth of July just behind us I have finally realized that summer is almost halfway over. {Here in the south we will have insanely hot and humid days well in to October, but by that time I'll be thinking of pumpkins and spiced chai.} Between finishing school, starting a new job and taking licensing exams, I completely missed the first half of the season. Now that things have calmed down a bit, I am determined to make the most of what's left of summer. In order to help me do that, here's a list of summer frivolities and projects that I hope to enjoy over the next couple months.

1. Make this peach and avocado salad - would also be good on top of grilled chicken

2. Spend at least one day on the lake

3. Really looking forward to a girls beach trip in August with these two ladies {we will miss you Les!}

4. Buy Georgia peaches from a local fruit stand and make an almond flour cobbler

5. Finish the mini-makeover of our master bathroom

6. Attend at least one outdoor concert - it's indoors, but this one is on the books in a few weeks!

7. Go for long road bike rides on Saturday mornings as often as possible

8. Make homemade ice cream sandwiches and eat them on the porch

9. Build a farm table

10. Have a dinner party

What are you planning for the summer?
xoxo

copyright Hiking in Stilettos

Friday Favorites

{ via}

Having a holiday in the middle of the week really threw me off for some reason, so this weekend will be one for relaxing and spending some much-needed time at home. Lunch with my bestie, a long road bike ride, a Sunday matinee, and plenty of down time on the couch. 

Also...

Currently watching episode after episode of this show

A great summer hairstyle

Planning a manicure with a punchy pink and orangey coral

Loving this colorful website, especially this ceiling

What are you doing this weekend?

xoxo

Independence Day

 

Today I am so very thankful for the freedom that comes with being an American.

via

This past weekend we watched the movie 'Act of Valor.' Have you seen it? It was amazing, but heartbreaking. I can barely imagine the amount of courage and strength it must take to be one of those men. Or one of their wives.

 I am so grateful for the men and women who are courageous enough make the ultimate sacrifice to protect this country. For those who risk their lives daily to ensure our freedom. And for their families. I know it's not much, but thank you.

Happy Independence Day.
xoxo
 

Red, White and Blue

Style inspiration for a festive Independence Day.....

1/2/3/4/5

xoxo