Countdown to Christmas with Balsam Hill

Today I'm partnering with Balsam Hill for their Countdown to Christmas series. If you are visiting from Our Southern Home...Welcome! So glad you are here!

I am joining 23 other bloggers in counting down to Christmas as well as offering 25 lucky readers a $100 gift card to Balsam Hill. You can enter Here! 

Can you all believe that Christmas is in 19 days? It looks a bit different for us this year. Since the twins have been born, I have realized that this mama can't do it all. So we are really trying to simplify and enjoy this season without having to deck the halls to a "T" or bake excessive amounts of cookies. We are slowing down and soaking up the magic in these babies' eyes.

DIY Felt Tree

Christmas to me this year is spending time with the people that I love. As we have seen in the news most recently, life is precious so why not spend every moment with family and friends that mean so much to us!? I absolutely love this Advent Calendar from Balsam Hill and can't wait to make this our family tradition in the years to come. Placing activities for the kids to do each day will make this season even more meaningful. 

One tradition that I just can't seem to give up is decorating a tree with my collected vintage ornaments. I have so many fond memories that are attached to these ornaments.

We aren't throwing a party this year, but I just had to set the table in case you all want to come over! You know I love a good table setting and using my grandmother's china takes me back in time to sitting at this exact table in my grandparent's dining room on Christmas Eve.

I hope you all will take a few moments to slow down and really feel the meaning of Christmas this year. 

Tell me....what are some of your favorite family traditions? I need to pile some ideas away for the years to come. 

Make sure to visit Robin at All things Heart and Home tomorrow for more inspiration.

**Don't forget to enter the $100 giveaway! Enter HERE.***

**A Huge Thank You to Balsam Hill for the Embroidered Advent Calendar! We will enjoy this with our family for many years to come. All opinions and photographs are mine.**

{Simply White} Color of the Year

White? Really? It's the color of the year? My thoughts exactly until I saw some of the images below. You either absolutely adore this color and how it creates such contrast against everything in the space, or you despise it.

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I am actually a huge fan of white! I know I have young kids and they will probably draw all over the walls and create some pretty sticky hand prints, but I don't care. We painted the nursery, master bathroom and dining room Shoji White and I haven't regretted that decision one bit.

What do you all think? Are you a fan of white or do you try and stay away from it? What is your "go-to" color?

Flip Home #6 {After} Pics

Hi All! I am so enjoying this fall weather here in NC. I love the change of pace from the busy summer to a more subdued fall. The colors are just starting to pop out and I can't wait to get the babies outside for some pictures.

As promised (a week late) I am sharing the after photos of our most recent flip home. If you missed the before pics you can find them Here.

Since I had just delivered my babies 6 months ago, I really wasn't too involved with this flip like I usually am. I did find the home and completed the closing, but I didn't get to do the FUN stuff like picking out paint, flooring, counter-tops, etc. However, our business partner really did a phenomenal job without me! See for yourself.

And of course a couple of photos to show how far we have come! Don't you love before and after pictures?

Now we are on the hunt for flip home #7! To see the last 5 homes click HERE.

7 Fall {DIYs & Recipes} I'd Like to Try

Hi all! Hope you are enjoying your fall. The weather is really changing here in NC and I have been in the mood for salted caramel mocha's and pumpkin pie! The fall is definitely one of my favorite seasons.

On my free time (haha) I have been scouring the web and finding some really neat fall DIYs that I would love to try. Not sure I will have time this fall or not, but I am definitely saving these ideas on my Fall pinterest board for next year.

1. DIY Plaid Pumpkin
My girl Courtney is the queen of plaid and she has recently created this adorable plaid pumpkin vase for fall! How adorable is this? Or if you have no use for a vase, you could just create a plain plaid pumpkin and add to your Halloween or Thanksgiving decor.

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2. Apple Cider Sidecar Cocktail

Let's be honest, this mama could use a cocktail and this one is calling my name! Might be mixing this sweet drink this coming weekend.

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3. Orange Gingerbread Sugar Scrub Cubes

Don't these look fun!? I am thinking I need to call all my girlfriends and have a girls night in just to make these little guys. Maybe a fall party will be in my near future. 

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4. Fall Printable (Free Download)
This saying is so me! I love my tea and for some reason the fall makes me want to cozy up and read something new and exciting. This printable also comes in black with white writing for all of you chalkboard lovers.

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5. Fall Apple Cheeseballs

How adorable are these? Like so so cute. If you know me at all...anything cheese is perfection!

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6. Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bread

Can you all see a recurring theme around here? Yes I love fall and yes I am hungry! I love this sweet printable recipe card from Jones Design Company. Have you signed up for their free printable archive?

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7. Candy Corn Chocolate Bark

Are you a candy corn fan? You are either all in or absolutely hate the candy. There are no gray areas for candy corn. I actually love it until I get sores on my tongue from eating too many...then I despise the stuff! Maybe making them into bark would help me from eating too much (maybe). 

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What do you all crave in the fall? Anything I NEED to know about?

Have a wonderful weekend friends! 

Easy Pumpkin Decorating {& GIVEAWAY}

Well it's no secret that everything around here has to be quick and easy these days. So when I saw this adorable photo from a blogging friend on Instagram, I had to share it with all of you!

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How cute are these gold vinyl dots? And....how seriously chic and easy would these be for your fall decorating?

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I also love the idea of the vinyl monogram and how reusing these in different ways around the house would be amazing! 

If you aren't following my sweet friend Leen the Graphics Queen, then you are missing out on some fabulous ideas for your home! I really need this Welcome Sign in my life and how adorable are these stars and dots in this little girls room?

Leen is the women! You can custom order pretty much anything in any color...and she is SO reasonable. 

Are you all ready to win some Gold Dot Decals? Hope So. One of you lucky readers will win a sheet of these different size dots just in time for Fall decorating!

Follow the rafflecopter below. One winner will be announced Monday 10/19 . Good Luck! a Rafflecopter giveaway

Raleigh Flip Home #6 {Before Pictures}

We haven't been involved with flipping homes much this past year, but finally found a foreclosed town home at the right price to sink our teeth into. This little beauty is around 1200sqft, 2 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, a large family room with custom molding and fireplace as well as a decent size screened in porch. Sounds lovely doesn't it?

You won't think so after seeing the hideous before pictures below.

It really does have some charm...doesn't it?

Yeah...the kitchen was pretty bad. Plain gross!

Someone was a definite fan of mustard yellow!

The three bathrooms were also a bit dated, but nothing a little paint and scrub brush couldn't do!

Two bedrooms...both with the weirdest paint choices ever...mustard yellow and olive green!?

One of my favorite parts of the house is the screened in porch off the back. This is where I would spend my time!

It really just needed some cosmetic help. We didn't have to touch it structurally at all. We added new paint throughout, stainless steel appliances, screens on the porch, refinished the hardwoods, added new vinyl floors to the kitchen and baths along with new carpeting on stairs and bedrooms.

AND... we sold this bad boy in just 2 days. I can't wait to share the afters with you all next week!

If you need to play catch up...check out all of our flip homes HERE.

Have a great holiday weekend my friends!

Sofa Pillow Options- Need YOUR Vote!

Hello Hello! Can you believe this is the third week in a row that I posted something!? (Yeah...me neither considering some crabby babies over here. )
Anyhoo...I had a birthday a couple of weeks ago and my husband asked me what I wanted for my birthday. I told him to not buy me anything, that I wanted to pick out some pillow covers for the couch! So I am in need of a little help from all of you.

I bought this floral fabric when we were in Williamsburg last year. I know it isn't quite fall-ish, but I really love the colors and think it will help me steer the living room in the direction I want to go. The picture below reads more red than it really is in person. The background is more of a coral color.

My mother-in law was nice enough to sew the pillows for me since I would have to clean off an inch of dust off of my sewing machine. Haven't seen that sweet girl in months! The pillows below are my inspiration:

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I am loving the contrast between the dark piping and the light neutral back. There are so many colors to pull from in this pillow that I am having a hard time deciding on a pillow combination for the couch. 

I currently have two large pillows on my gray sectional. I wrote about simplicity a while back and this post was my inspiration for why I chose only TWO pillows. 

Well after a few years of loving on these pillows it is time for a change! Take a look at my five options below and let me know what you all think!

Gray & White Pillows, Citron Lumbar Pillow

I have to admit this one is a favorite of mine. I like the modern against the traditional. I feel as though my house is a bit like this combination. I have a mix of traditional family pieces as well as modern fixtures and lines within my home. 

Goldenrod Square Key Pillow, Teal Velvet Pillow
I get a more traditional vibe from the pillows above. The velvet lumbar adds a bit of texture as well as the pattern play between the other two.

Citron Velvet Pillow, Dalmatian Print Pillow
This combination is a bit more modern. I love the dalmatian print against the floral. It really kicks the wow factor up a notch!

Gray & White Pattern Pillow, Goldenrod Square Key Pillow
Pattern, Pattern Pattern! This combination is also fun, but not sure I can pull it off!

Gray & White Pillow, Teal Velvet Pillow, Goldenrod Square Key Pillow, Dalmatian print pillow
This last option has a mix of all the pillows to create a bit of interest. I do love this look and could really use a mix against the sectional.

Okay...your turn! Which option is your favorite OR do you have another combination you think might wow me? Give me your best shot!