VA Bloggers Give Back

My good blog friend Bekah over @ Re-solve came up with a FANTASTIC idea!! And its BIG!! She wants to see the blogging community in the community! This will be a nationwide "blog meet up" but its no ordinary meet up. There will be a leader for each state/metro area who will be responsible for organizing a local community service event. Its going to be a great way for us to give thanks and give back!

So guess what? I am the leader for Virginia!! The event will be held in November and all bloggers are welcome (doesn't matter if you are new or a veteran blogger, a big or small blog, a fashion blog or food blog) !! After the event, we will blog about it to share our experiences with bloggers in other states and communities!!

So do you want to make a difference? (fill out this short survey so that I can contact you when we have more details)

If you are on the fence, then keep reading.

A few Sunday's ago, the music director of my church gave a guest sermon and I think it came at a great time in my life. The very end was about Jesus washing the disciples feet and saying "I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you." John 13:15

She ended on a question: What do you do to help others? I started to really evaluate that question and how it pertains to my life. What I am doing for others? Well I do things for my husband and my family and some friends but.....otherwise I haven't done anything for my community since college.

There are so many people out there that need our help. There are the elderly who can't get around as well anymore. There are the ill, the poor, the hungry. I could go on and on.

How is it that we can go about our daily lives and not help these people? I am not trying to cast blame or guilt on anyone but I am trying to be that voice inside of your head saying DO IT! Be a part of this challenge. Don't do it for self-worth. Do it because it will touch the lives of those around you. Do it because God calls us to action. You never know what kind of turn your life will take. What if you were the one that needed help and no one around you was willing to lend a hand?

Ok, now have i convinced you? I have not officially decided on an event yet but I am thinking Habitat for Humanity? Fill out this form if you are interested!!

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1cwgg4UylWYlf2ejNDTt0g4wDoW-bDzliyBi8e3sKa1g/viewform?usp=send_form

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Message from Bekah

All throughout November, bloggers will be meeting up for good! #givethanksgiveback events will be taking place in the regions listed below - find one near you and get in touch with the blogger in that area for more information on their specific event and how you can help!

Don't see anything in your area? Contact Bekah to schedule your own #givethanksgiveback event!

Arkansas

Northwest Arkansas - MC Awesome

Georgia

Atlanta - Be Blessed, Ya'all

Maryland

Baltimore - re•solve

Western MD - Nifty Thrifty Lady

Mississippi

Southern - Byrd is the Word

Montana

Western - Failing Perfect

Oklahoma

OKC/Norman - Passion, Pink, & Pearls & Oklahoma Pepplers

South Carolina

Columbia - Divas with a Purpose

Texas

Dallas - Glitz n' Grits

Virginia

Richmond - Designer in Teal

Halloween Fever {Gabby Post}

Well, I can officially say it's fall! My favorite time of year. I don't know about you guys, but fall makes me feel all warm and happy. Who doesn't like falling leaves, pumpkin everything (I know, some people get tired of it quickly...) and cooler temps that mean I get to wear my favorite scarves and boots? Not to mention apple and pumpkin picking...hayrides...SIGH. <--that's my happy sigh. :)

We just happened to be coming up on my favorite month, too. OCTOBER. I started thinking about October, and my creative juices started flowing! I wanted to get some Fall/Halloween pillows, but they are all really expensive. SO, a trip to Joann fabrics solved that. I found a bunch of fabric I loved and an oh so easy envelope pillow case tutorial so I could make my own!

My pretty fabric

I decided to make some small pillows with the orange and black polka dot fabric. Here were a few of my inspirations:

Source

Source

I also decided to add some details to my pillow and wanted the "BOO" sewn on to the front.

So here I go...

I followed the instructions in the tutorial and cut out a front that was 12.5"x 12.5" (the pillow is a 12"x12"). Then I cut the two back pieces  at 8.25" each (added 4" to the 12.5" and divided in half).

All my pieces cut out

Then I had to cut out my "BOO". I used some stencils and a chalk marker and traced onto the fabric and cut it out. Then I pinned and hand sewed the letters to the front of the pillow top with some black thread. At first I tried this with the machine, but I really didn't like how it looked. I opted for hand sewing and I'm so glad I did!

Didn't have to be perfect. I was glad the white fabric started fraying at the ends, gave it a cool look!

 Then I sewed the backs on the the front, shoved my pillow in and I was done!

After I made the first one, I decided to make more and send them to my sisters and sisters in law! I ended up making myself a couple pillows though. Had to keep some for myself. :)

My pillows

I have grand plans for these pillows, so check back at the end of the month!

So, with my "BOO" pillows in the mail with a couple other cute little Halloween things, I'm ready to move on to the main Halloween project: the mantel. Why is this a project? I don't even have a mantel over the fireplace! But, by the end of October, my living room will be a mixture of these two designs:

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Source

Do you guys have Halloween fever yet? Or are you waiting it out? I will say mine hit early this year. At least I'm not buying Christmas decorations yet! ;)

Gabby

Emerald Isle, NC

Yes I took another week off from blogging. No I am not sorry because we went on vacation Saturday-Tuesday and I was in vacation mode the rest of the week. But I still want to share a quick recap since I have so many pretty pics :)

And it will also help stall until I have my fall decor post ready!!

This was our first vacation (besides our staycation) since our honeymoon. I so wish we could have stayed another week...I feel like the beach was natural medicine. It renewed my energy and just took away all of the stress.

Tim's parents rented a townhouse in this cute place for the week!! Of course we didn't get any pics of all of us...gah!

The first day we went to Historic Swansboro for some shopping and lunch and headed back to the beach for the late afternoon. We ate at Yana's (which is always a favorite of mine) It's a 50's style diner and has the best milkshakes!!

Isn't it darling?

I have an old pic of me w/ this Elvis but I can't find it....

The weather was perfect but it did get darker earlier. And it did rain the last day but I still enjoyed every minute.

What? You thought we didn't bring Artie?? Haha he even claimed a beach chair!

It took him a while to warm up to the ocean. But he sure did have fun digging in the sand!

 Somebody didn't want to cooperate...

We went to Michaelangelo's for dinner. They have the best pizza! Unfortunately the shops were closed so we had to go back the next day.

Tim convinced me to get up early the next morning to take Artie on a beach walk. It was worth it.

We went back and changed for an earlier day on the beach/ at the pool. Later in the afternoon we did some antique shopping. I got lots of goodies (some of which you will see in the fall decor post). We went to Riverside Steak and Seafood for dinner. We remembered it from last time because of their insanely good Sweet Potato muffins. (Can you tell I love food?) Tim and I split 3 appetizers including the blackened scallop nachos!!!

 The last day it rained so we drove to Historic Beaufort (my favorite) Artie was glad to head home but we sure weren't.

Adorable Shop!!!!

Wanted to bring this home for Fall but it was $100 I am too much of a bargain shopper for that...

Do you ever take family vacations later in the season? Have you ever been to Emerald Isle, Swansboro or Beaufort??

Friday Letters

Dear kitchen, please clean yourself!!

Dear Autumn, once I return from the beach I will welcome you with open arms.

Dear gym, I'll be coming back more regularly I promise. Just please no more flexigility classes interrupting my step class. (you don't even wanna know what flexigility entails)

I couldn't resist!! Although like I said I love my gym and workout buddy :)

Dear Ashley, thank you for hosting an AMAZING Swap til you Drop party this Monday. My closet thanks you too! I got some beautiful pieces and my old ones went to good homes! And I got to hang out with some sweet friends and make new friends! (there will be another post on this later)

Dear readers, get excited about an upcoming giveaway because I hit 500 bloglovin followers AND 100,000 pageviews this week!

Dear Hokies, GET YOUR ACT TOGETHER this weekend!!

cookies I made for last weeks game!

Dear Influenster, thanks for the Degree deodorant. It was already my favorite though ;) #domore

Dear Tim (and Artie), I can't believe we've already been in our house for 6 months!! Time flies when you're having fun :)

Move-in day!

Dear Fox, thank you for having so many awesome shows!! Did anyone else catch the premiere of Red Band Society? I was almost in tears!! (happy and sad)

Dear Buffer thanks for making my social media life less stressful :)

Dear Target, I can't avoid you any longer. I've got to stock up on some goodies for the beach :) As always, I'm worried for my bank account.

What are you doing this weekend? Who would you write Friday letters to?

I've got the blues

***Hop over to Helene's blog and bid on one of my custom mood boards+in-post ad space!! Bid starts @ $5****

Blue bathroom walls that is! I LOVE the color!! Now we just have to paint the bedroom. I have narrowed it down and will share that later. It will be a much softer, muted neutral to complement the blue.

Don't worry if you're not up to speed, you can see the master bath design here and the before pics here!!

Let's start with the punch list (which I added to)

-demo existing parquet and vinyl floor
-uninstall toilet
-make final selection on floor tile
-install new hexagon honed marble tile
-reinstall toilet
-demo existing countertop/sink
-install new custom solid surface top and rectangular under mount sink
-prep vanity
-paint existing vanity
-buy or make new beaded shaker style doors and panel 
-install new vanity doors
-purchase new faucet set
-install faucet set
-buy new knobs
-demo old medicine cabinet
-repair hole where medicine cabinet used to be!
-prep walls for paint
-paint walls
-possibly replace light fixture
-make a barn wood frame for mirror
-Buy new wall cabinet for over toilet
-install cabinet over toilet
-come up with some DIY art
-purchase shower curtain
-purchase new bath mat
-replace almond colored switches
-replace almond colored GFI receptacle
-replace switch plate covers to new brushed nickel ones

So now I feel like we haven't done anything. But it looks like we have done a lot. It's amazing how much an impact paint can make.

I told y'all that we ran into a few hiccups with the electrical. Well it just got worse before it got better. We spent at least an hour putting in a new junction box and changing the light switches. We had to label the wires which were all tangled up but I was 95% sure I had everything hooked up correctly. So we turned the power back on and....nothing. I was about to cry...seriously. It was Sunday afternoon so I knew it would be almost impossible to get an electrician over until Monday. BUT Tim suggested we ask his cousin Joey what to do. He offered to come over and take a look at it. Well...he fixed it in about 2 minutes. YAY!!! And then he installed our light fixture for us! DOUBLE YAY!! And the funniest part is that he asked if it would get him a shout-out on "Designer in Teal"? Of course!!

Okay here is the part you really care about: pictures! Well, I hope you read the rest of the post because it's crucial to the "reno" process.

But I'm warning you, these pics are not pretty. The bathroom is small and its hard to get a good picture (without me and the lime green bedroom in the reflection) Here goes:

What do you think so far? Have you ever attempted any electrical work? How did it turn out?