5 Ways To Style Color Blush Into Your Life & Home

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For Your Wardrobe

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With Valentine's Day next week, I thought it was only appropriate to discuss the color pink in today's post!  (Last week we styled Gingham, if you missed it check it out here!)  So, to kick things off we're talking Athleisure - have you guys gotten on board to this trend yet?  Obviously (per last week's posts, I love a good white tennis shoe, with this one being my go to...I'm not kidding when I say I bulk buy these things).  So, last year I thought I'd step it up a notch and bought these sneakers (in a pink & grey color) to wear with jeans.  I love them so much, that I'm currently in the market for another pair and am loving the blush tone of these, these & these.  Pair them with a basic white tee, some distressed denim, and a luxe leather crossover for a super casual, yet pulled together look, great for playtime at the park or lunch with friends.

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New Balance Sneakers, Anthropologie  |  White V Tee, J. Crew  |  Denim, J. Crew  |  Leather Crossover, Mark & Graham

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I'm currently wearing this blush sweater on repeat these days.  This is my go to 'uniform' during the colder months, as I've collected quite a range in color of these (25% off today with code ZY5BU).  They're a lighter weight which is perfect for our southern winter.  They run true to size, you want this to be fitted (but don't worry, they're in no way a slim fit)  Great with jeans, I also transition them with shorts in the spring.  This time of year, pair with a colorful ballet flat.  And another trend I'm daring myself to try this Spring is the bandanna.  I love the liberty print on this one.  Tie it around your neck as a necklace alternative or tie a bow on a purse for a colorful pop.

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Tippi Sweater Color: Fresh Bouquet, J.Crew  |  Ballet Flats, J. Crew  |  Liberty Print Bandanna, J. Crew  |  High Rise Denim, J. Crew

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For The Home

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A subtle way to bring some color to the kitchen along with a fresh aroma!  This is my favorite scent for Spring.  Pair with white dish towels for the perfect hostess gift (this would also be a great teacher gift for Valentine's Day!).  Next to the sink it looks great paired near a cake stand filled with all those heart shaped sugar cookies I'm hoping to make(#goals).  And while I'm discussing the kitchen, I ran across these ceramic hand juicers the other day ~ too cute and they may just motivate me to make hand squeezed orange juice!

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White Dish Towels, William Sonoma  |  Cake Stand, Domino|  Ceramic Hand Juicer, Target

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I've been spotting Hayley Mitchell prints throughout Instagram this past year.  This abstract feminine print would be a fun addition to a small entry table.  Display it in a brass frame.  It would make a welcoming entrance paired next to a simple lamp and a white bowl filled with green apples.

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Hayley Mitchell Print, Anthrologie,  |  Lamp, Ones King Lane |  Frame, Target  |  Faux Green Apples, Pier 1

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How sweet is this pink indoor/outdoor rug?!  It would be perfect for the mudroom or a backdoor.  Place it near a white shoe rack to create the perfect place for your wellies and shopping totes this Spring!

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Dash & Albert Indoor/Outdoor Rug, Nordstrom|  Shoe Rack, Design Within Reach  |  Hunter Boots, Nordstrom  |  Tote,  Domino

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For more pink picks, I've rounded up my favorites for Spring including the sweetest little dresses for girls and a fun duck umbrella that I think we all need for April Showers...check it out here!

My Shower Must Have (and odds are you already have it!)

With winter in full force, my skin is really feeling the effects.  But harsh conditions don't have to leave your skin feeling dry and rough.  I've spent a lot of time over the years seeking out good, affordable and efficient shower products.  In looking for a good exfoliator, this one's never let me down, and guarantees soft, radiant skin.  Fuss-free, easy and practically free, my number one shower must have is this, make yourself,  sugar scrub.

This is the stuff that home spa days are made of.  My tween self loved this home remedy, and as an adult, I wonder what ever made me quit using it?!  I know most of you at one time or another have whipped this up yourself, and after trying expensive store versions, it's this easy diy recipe that does the trick.  I keep it really simple using just two ingredients, sugar I have on hand and this olive oil, which I typically just pick up from the grocery store.  To make, I mix equal parts (1 cup of each) in this perfectly sized ramekin.  Obviously, you can get really creative, add rosemary for a fragrant touch, switch out white for brown sugar, and on occasion I like to use a coffee, honey, oil and sugar mixture.  Really, the options are endless.  But to keep things simple and to not overly irritate my already sensitive skin, I typically stick with the basic two ingredients!  With Valentine's Day coming up, this also makes for a great homemade gift.  Make a couple cups, put it in a canning jar, top off with a bow and a sea sponge (I'm always going back for this set, great to split up and gift individually or to keep for yourself and display in a large bowl in the bathroom!)

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Sea Sponge, Pottery Barn  |  Condiment Spoons, CB2  |  White Ramekin, Target

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For the sugar scrub, I apply it in the shower after washing my hair and body (if you're looking for a new body soap, I started using this last year and will never go back!  The other soap I love is this this, although a bit pricey, it's gentle and the subtle fragrance can't be beat!).  In gentle, circular motions, I apply the sugar scrub.  Then rinse off in warm water.  The sugar does the exfoliating, while the oil nourishes.  To lock in all that moisture I apply this body lotion.  And during extreme dry weather, this one.  Simple and super easy!  My go-to sugar scrub is hands down my shower must have this winter!

Kids Reading Nook | Design On My Mind

Happy Monday Friends!  All this winter weather has us bundled up in our house, snuggled up with our favorite blankets and reading our favorite books.  Currently the kiddos have me read this, this and this on repeat!  And in thinking about the design of their new big (toddler) room, I love the idea of setting up a designated little reading nook for them.  You know the ones with adorable tee-pees like this, or cute canapy's placed in a corner like this one.  I recently put these chairs in their room (keep in mind that price is for TWO, which makes for a great price point).  We bought them last fall, and I've been so happy with the quality and sturdiness, they're short enough for the kids to easily get on and off, but big enough for adults to sit in.  And while I find them to be really comfortable, particularly for dining chairs, their metal frame doesn't lend itself for a good lounging option.  

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Tee Pee, Pottery Barn Kids  |  Industrial Chairs, Target  |  Canopy, Pottery Barn Kids

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So, in looking up options, I love the classic stripes of this one, plus it just looks comfy!  A couple poufs could be a good idea, (I like the knit and color of this one).  And my love of rattan has me loving this option (currently 40% off!).  

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Personalized Stripe Chair, Land of Nod  |  Knit Pouf, Land of Nod  |  Rattan Chair, Land of Nod

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But the thing I keep coming back to our these.  Unfortunately, the size is just way too big for our space (for a short time they offered a mini version, but they were still too big).  I've been contemplating trying to DIY my own.  With limited sewing skills, I'm hesitant to do it, but I think this updated version of a bean bag could be the perfect thing for our own reading nook (do I dare try it?!)  I've seriously been obsessing over these for awhile now!  Pair it with a fun piece of art, or a cute animal head, we just bouth this one (and only $20!).  Add a colorful pillow (I've got my eye on this one) and viola, a cute comfy ready nook!

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Newport Lounger, Serena & Lily  |  Llama Animal Head, Target  |  Pillow, Serena & Lily

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Well friends, that's what I'm dreaming of this chilly, dreary Monday.  Hope you're having a great start to your week!

This Week On Iron & Twine

FEBRUARY 2017  |  WEEK ONE

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In case you missed it, we're sharing a roundup of all the happenings from Iron & Twine this past week!  And after Thursday's post, I noticed my favorite hand soap (which you can currently find here), is currently 20% off this weekend!  Perfect time to stock up on a spring essential!  Be sure to catch up on this posts below, and be sure to sign up for our NEW newsletter, IRON & TWINE DAILY, to stay up to date on all things Iron & Twine!

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Outdoor Space | Director Chairs

Are you ready for the weekend?!  Here in Atlanta, everyone's a buzz about the upcoming super bowl.  While we're not a typical football watching family, we're excited to take part of the festivities and cheer on our hometown team.  And with this current southern weather, I'm contemplating taking our party outdoors...it was in the 70's yesterday, and I'm not kidding when I say I almost turned on the ac!  But either way, I'm looking forward to warmer days and taking our dinners outdoors.  Last fall we did this side patio (that fence hack made such a BIG difference to the space) and I have to say we thoroughly love our new outdoor living space.  I've always been a big fan of director chairs (I had them in my college apartment), so when I originally came across these online, I became obsessed with wanting them for our outdoor space.  But alas, there was no way I could justify their price point on our budget.  So, I was elated when I found ours on an end of summer clearance (which is THE BEST time to find good deals on outdoor furniture!).  If you're looking for some now, I love the price of these &  the bamboo look on these.  This set (includes table + 6 chairs) is another good price considering all you get!  

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Directors Chair, Serena & Lily  |  String Lights, Pottery Barn  |  Beer Garden Bench, World Market

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The key to create this look is to stay within a honey cedar tone.  I originally liked the idea of striped seats, inspired by these,(this pairs price point is much friendlier), but in wanting to keep the space neutral and more versatile we finalized on white.  They fold up great, making for easy and compact storage, plus those seats are a breeze to take off and wash!  I love them against our table (similiar one here), and the added beer garden bench (this similiar one is currently on sale!)  Add some string lights, (I recommend checking these and these out), and what you've got is an inviting space for successful al fresco dinners!  In the meantime, I'm off to look up some football watching appetizers and heck...I may just order an outdoor heater. (currently got my eye on this)!  Happy weekend friends...Go Falcons!

Organize | Under Sink Storage

If there's only one thing I've learned it's that investing in good quality organization products is a household game changer.  And trust me I've tried them all.  When it comes to under the sink, there's plenty of hacks to try, cheaply made products to use and frankly all of those have only left me frustrated and constantly re-organizing.  In our last house I came across this under sink organziner.   At first I had total sticker shock, and had a hard time seeing the value.  But after initially installing it, I was completely sold!  5 years of use and it still looked and functioned like brand new.  So, when we bought our current home, it was the first thing I purchased.  (actually, I made the mistake of buying a copycat brand, thinking it was this one...yeah it didn't even compare.  So, if you're looking for an under sink storage, make sure you're purchasing THIS brand).  Seriously, it was that good!  Two shelves give plenty of storage space and it rolls out like a dream. 

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Under Sink Organizer, Household Essentials | Grapefruit Hand Soap, William Sonoma | Vegetable Brush, Sur La Table

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As for my favorite cleaning products, it's taken me awhile to figure out what products and brands work best for us.  Now that I've got our go-to's down, cleaning has become a more mainstreamed process in our house.  For hand soap I love this (currently 20% off!) for the kitchen. There's something fresh, subtle and inviting about these hand soaps.  For dish detergent I stick to this old stand-by.  If you've followed along for awhile, you know my love of silver, and you may know that our everyday silverware is vintage silver plate flatware.  To keep it looking good, I love this silver polish!  I prefer the cream version to the liquid, it's much easier to apply and gives faster results. My newest addiction to our cleaning regime is this spray.  While not a anti-bacterial, it's great for dusting and wiping down surfaces.  Plus the subtle aroma it gives to our home afterwards makes for a happy space!   

Our Playroom | Kitchen, Market, Cafe in One!

As a kid my absolute favorite thing was play food.  I'd spend hours in my play kitchen, days setting up a grocery store and even went as far as seeking out a treadmill for a larger than life conveyor belt.  Needless to say, when I found out I was pregnant with twins, one of the things I was absolutely most excited for was when the day came for the three of us to play store...and kitchen...and market.  So, when we moved to this house last year, one of the first things on our to do list was to create a space that was for them. Right off our kitchen and dining/breakfast nook is this awkward long space.  Not wide enough for a table, but long enough to easily become a wasted space.  This turned out to be the best place for our kids play kitchen, which I have to say we LOVE!.  We also wanted to inlcude their table and chairs.  The table was a first birthday present and initially I thought we'd out grow quickly.  The twins are now 2 1/2 and it's still the perfect size for them.  It's super sturdy and has held up really well.  Recently they made this protector for the table top and I have to say its well worth the investment! 

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Play Kitchen, Pottery Barn  |  Flower Garland, Land of Nod  |  Play Table & Chairs, Pottery Barn

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To continue with our market theme...we added more accessories to create endless options for them to play kitchen, market, flower shop, and cafe.  For the 'store section' we attached metal baskets to the walls.  You can find similiar baskets here, here & here. I'd also suggest you check clearance sections for these, ours were originally copper color that we spray painted.  Each basket is filled with play food.  Our favorites from the past year have been this, this and this.  With this play cookie set being my kids favorite thing this past year.  Flower & fabric garland bring seasonal style to the space.  I love seeking these items out at the dollar section of Target.  I'm also loving this flower garland right now.

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Wire Baskets, Home Decorators  |  Play Food, Melissa & Doug  |  Play Pots & Pans, Melissa & Doug

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The 'flower shop' is a collection of vintage flower buckets, similar one found here, I also like to score these at thrift & antique stores for a bargain.  They're filled with artificial flowers (tulips, ranunculas & hydrangeas).  The dollar store has great options as well as craft stores, buy them when they're on sale!  P & K love taking them in and out of the buckets, re-arranging them, and gifting them to me (how lucky that I get bouquets on a daily basis!)  Now they're great for learning colors and counting!  We already had those cute chalkboard hang tags, you kind find similiar ones here.

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Flower Bucket, Terrain  |  Metal Basket, H&M  |  Chalkboard Hang Tags, Sur La Table

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This shopping cart has been a much loved addition!  For a similiar look without the price tag, check out this one.  

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Metal Shopping Cart, Pottery Barn Kids  |  Bistro Chair, Serena & Lily  |  Round Jute Rug, Pottery Barn

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I have to say this space has brought a lot of happiness and fun into our home this past year!  For those concerned about not having a designated 'play room' I can assure you this set up is a great alternative.  Keep to neutral pieces or those that match your own decor to create a flawless flow from the 'kids' area to the rest of the space.  It should also be noted we created a very simple and cheap 'accent wall' to define the space.  We used this brick peel & stick wallpaper (so easy!) and leftover chalkboard paint.  To tie it toether we used a simple molding piece from a local home improvement store, it also doubles as the perfect mini shelf to hold chalk!  The accent wall came in around $60 all in!  What play space have you created for your kids?!  Would love to hear your thoughts & ideas!

5 Ways To Style Gingham Into Your Life & Home

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For Your Wardrobe

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Looking to brighten up my wardrobe this Spring, I'm loving this preppy gingham top!  The perfect transition piece for Spring, pair it with my all time favorite sneakers (only $17!), a fitted pair of dark denim (I'm currently loving these) and a fun new accessory.  This look is the perfect outfit for weekday errands and weekend brunches!

Gingham Top, J. Crew  |  White Sneakers, Target  |  High Rise Denim, J. Crew  |  Tote, Mar Y Sol

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This gingham pump goes perfectly from work day to happy hour with friends.  Pair it with a chunky colorful sweater (I'm loving the hue of this one), a long pendant necklace, and your favorite jeans for an understated look.

Gingham Pump, Desi  |  Sweater, Boden  |  Key Necklace, Nordstrom  |  High Rise Denim, J. Crew

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This gingham crossover is too cute to pass up, an ebay find it's sure to not last long.  (I'm also liking this similar one here.)  Pair it with a sundress (loving the subtle print on this one), a favorite baseball hat (this brand is my fave), and a pair of white sneakers (seriously, these are my favorite and a bargain at $17!).

Gingham Crossover, Ebay  |  Dress, Anthropologie  |  Harding Lane Hat, Ones King Lane  |  Sneakers, Target

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For The Home

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Who wouldn't want to curl up in these preppy sheets?!  Love this look for a guest room.  Style the space with simple décor, allowing this print to pop.  For a complete room, add a lamp (this one is a great bargain find), a timeless side table (love the beachy vibe of this one) and a work of art (we recently added this to our collection and LOVE it). 

Gingham Sheets, Serena & Lily  |  Lamp, Target  |  Side Table, Serena & Lily  |  Art, West Elm

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Breakfast never looked so good!  I'm loving these gingham plates that bring a preppy goodness to you everyday of the week!  Pair with a good set of linens (loving the texture on these), a bowl of oranges (displayed in this bowl for a practical centerpiece) and a few colorful mugs for a guaranteed good start of your day!

Gingham Plates, Mark & Graham  |  Napkins, Target  |  Berry Bowl, Kohls  |  Mugs, West Elm

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Life in color...

With almost a month into this year, like most new years, it's got me thinking.  I hope to continuously evolve, learn and grow in this life.  To embrace change and challenges and to dare myself to step out of my comfort zone.  Last January (at this exact time), we were shoving stuff into a U-haul and moving from our first home into our second.  And although the move was just a mere two miles, our life in this house is already drastically different from the one we had in our last.  For one, our family doubled to now include two curious, sweet, loving, two year olds.  For a long time I tried to re-create our first home in this current one.  And to no surprise, breakable antiques and an all white color scheme seemed to drastically clash with twin toddlers and all of their eclectic accessories.  Busy work schedules and family life haven't left much room for extensive diy projects and living in a constant construction site just isn't an option with kids.  In wanting to clone our first home, I missed the bigger picture.  The thing I LOVED about our first house was that it became a tangible representation of me and Brian's life together.  As our marriage grew, so did our love of diy projects and design.  That house taught us a lot about ourselves and a lot about life.  Ultimately, it was never about the look of that house.  It was the feeling that our house brought us.  So, as we embark on this next home adventure our goals are the same...create a safe, fun, happy, inviting environment that's welcoming to all (now 4) members of our family.  Our life is a whole lot more colorful now, and it seems only fitting that our home is too.  With that I wish you all a Happy New Year friends!

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Holiday Entertaining with Wayfair

The Holidays are finally here!  To celebrate the season, I partnered with Wayfair to throw the perfect casual evening with friends & neighbors!  When it comes to entertaining, I like to keep things simple and laid back without compromising on festive decor!  

What better way to kick off the holidays than with Egg Nog and good company!  Whether you're hosting a week night happy hour or a weekend evening, this easy setup is meant to make entertaining a breeze!

To make the most of our small space, we decided to bring things outdoors.  We re-purposed our entry table to act as an outdoor bar.  How beautiful is this large punch bowl!  Makes the perfect statement in an otherwise natural environment!

Freshly cut magnolia branches with faux flowers act as a natural garland.  Don't have a large Magnolia Tree in the front yard?  Artificial garland works great and of course can be used for years to come!

I'm gah gah over that wood handled ice cream scoop.  

And of course boxwood wreaths are an all time favorite!  Instead of the hanging the usual large wreath, try grouping three small ones together for something different...people will notice!

Egg Nog is always a holiday favorite!  You can find our recipe here! (fun fact:  we add a scoop of cinnamon sprinkled ice cream to ours!). 

Add an additional splash of bourbon for a festive cocktail! 

For the full buying guide, egg nog recipe and my Top 3 Entertaining Tips for the Holidays, head over to the Wayfair Ideas and Advice page!

Happy Hosting Friends!

Holiday Favorites | Where to Buy Mini Christmas Trees

This season I'm wanting to incorporate a lot more greenery into our home, and these artificial table trees are just the thing!  Click the photos below to see where to buy them!

Maybe my favorite this year, at just $14 a piece (for the small, $18 for the medium), this little Chriistmas tree is cute trimmed with mini pinecones and a sprinkling of snow!  I found them at Target, back with all the Christmas stuff, currently not available online (I'll post a link when they are), next time you're there grab a few for the table or the kids room!

This small tree is cute wrapped in burlap.  The perfect size for an entry or coffee table!

This one is perfect to add a bit of whimsy to a space.  Think "whos down in whoville".

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And lastly (ours is an older version), classic and cute another great addition to your decor!

Happy Decorating Friends!

A Rustic Thanksgiving Table

With Thanksgiving just a little over a week away, it's time to make grocery lists, prepare the house for guests, and set the table!  When it comes to entertaining during the holidays, I like to keep things simple and beautiful!  For this table setting, cobalt blue napkins act as table runners, blue stripe napkins grace each plate, and vintage silver plate flatware adds a bit of shine to an otherwise rustic tablescape.

How are you planning to set the table this Thanksgiving?

Market Backpack

Love this natural tote...Perfect for markets or

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