Blog of the Month: Angela Marie Made

We recently stumbled upon Angela's blog, and although she doesn't post regularly, we are loving her home decor and DIY ideas! Her projects are easy to follow and it's got us drooling over her shabby chic style. I kid you not when I say, I pretty much want everything she has blogged about in my home. She really has a great eye!
Angela describes herself as "pretty much addicted to learning new creative skills" which we can totally relate to and respect. She also has her own Etsy shop where you can pick up home decor and printable art downloads. I spy a few prints I'll be picking up!

What blogs do you read for home decor and DIY inspo? 

Blogger of the Month: Making Nice in the Midwest

Mom blogger, crafts and DIY extraordinaire, recipe sharing and a style all her own...And they say you can't have it all ;) This month we're featuring Mandi from Making Nice in the Midwest. We could spend hours on her site, getting inspired by her love for old movies, scouring gorgeous images of vintage homes and learning how to make our own hand written poster for the home. Not only is she super talented (#GIRLBOSS) and beautiful, but her story is honest and authentic...you can see yourself in so many of her experiences so it's always nice to wake up, drink your coffee and share a moment with a fellow blogger who makes you think, "Yes! I know exactly what you mean"....

Read a little bit about the story behind Mandi's blog:

"I spent most of my twenties thinking about where to go next. Born and raised in Canton, Ohio, I had this creeping feeling inside that I was meant for something more. A bigger city. Cool people to meet. Exciting, creative opportunities to discover and chase. Of course, here I am, rounding the corner on my twenties and still living in my hometown. At first, I felt like I was giving up on my dreams by not moving away. 

My husband Phil and I were fresh out of college at twenty-four years old. We had no kids, no mortgage, and could potentially make a life wherever we wanted. So, why stick around? Maybe it was a shift in our priorities, or maybe this is just where God wants us to be, but it’s as if one day we woke up and couldn’t bear the idea of leaving this place...

I had discovered that there are amazing, creative, like-minded friends to be made right here at home, and great opportunities just ripe for the taking. We looked at the numbers, and knew we could much more easily live a comfortable life in such an affordable city- even buy a house, and start a family when were were ready! So we put down roots, bought a small, mid-century ranch, and even had that baby. And never moved to the big city.

I’ve finally realized I haven’t settled for anything by settling down in my Midwestern hometown. Phil and I don’t regret sticking around and becoming productive members of the community, encouraging people we meet, especially those who feel disappointed about being here. Instead of focusing on what we haven’t gotten to do, we’re taking advantage of the opportunities we do have and living with a positive outlook on life. I think shifting one’s perspective is the key to being happy wherever you are, and engaging in your God-given passions is certainly a plus! That’s what I’m all about, and that’s why I started this blog." - Mandi

Who inspires you? What bloggers do you follow on a daily basis?

Give Thanks For Family (& Wine!)

It was our second year hosting Thanksgiving and in the words of my cousin, "I think we need to do this every year." As much pressure as it's possible to feel when it comes to hosting a momentous Holiday, it's also a huge privilege and I look forward to making it special. 

I think I got my love of entertaining from my Mom and while nobody does it better, I like to think she taught me everything I know. She always made sure of two things: The presentation was beautiful and the table was always full because that's what brings people together. As long as there's good snacks, the conversation will follow...

This chalkboard table runner was a gift from my Aunt and I can't wait to bring it out every year. It was so much fun to read everyone's messages after the house emptied out.

My husband gave a lovely toast with two different wines from CK Mondavi including the Merlot and the Blonde Five, which I paired with a summer salad earlier this year and really enjoyed the flavors. 

I’m a fan of using this brand for special occasions, especially family-oriented because the wines are produced in the Napa Valley by the iconic C. Mondavi & Family and they are 100% American 

grown.

I almost filled an entire cart with flowers at Trader Joes but they were just too beautiful and the sunflowers make me so happy. I was there the day before Thanksgiving and it was packed but everybody was in such a good mood and the cashiers must've been delirious at that point but still making jokes..."How much turkey gravy does one REALLY need!?"

The host & hostess - download these DIY place cards for 2015!

SO. MUCH. GOODNESS.

The spiked cranberry punch recipe turned out amazing...pretty sure the host isn't supposed to have the first cup but I couldn't stay away ;)

I love when everybody is seated around the table - if only for a few hours, everybody's stress and problems fade away and we just focus on the time together

100 calorie pumpkin pie tartlets...gotta love a bite-sized dessert! 

Not pictured: The hot chocolate cheesecake. I have no words...

How was your Thanksgiving? What made it memorable?

Blog of the Month: Little Nostalgia

Our October blogger of the month is Paige of Little Nostalgia...

"The blog began as a way for me to stave off boredom at my former day job, but when I went back to school for interior design in 2011, the blog changed with me. These days the blog is about making yourself at home through DIY projects, decor inspiration, and personal style. Where you live is an extension of who you are, so don’t be afraid to make it your own. We bought our first home in 2012, a split-level from the early ’70s that was partially updated over the years. We’re slowly painting over all of the ’90s oak and making it our style. You can check out some of our biggest projects right here."

See some of Paige's inspirational home decor posts:

On top of the blog, Paige also has her own home decor business called The Room Kit where she can help you design any space. Her mood boards are a great choice whether you’re starting from scratch, or just need a little boost bringing everything together. These boards are full of ideas and instructions to help you transform your room. 

The idea is to give you the help of a designer but the freedom to work at your own pace, at your convenience. You can implement exactly what she sends you, or use it as a jumping off point for your own awesome ideas. Your design will be totally customized based on your personal style and budget. Each mood board is only $150 and will tell you everything you need to give your space a fresh look.

Will you try out the Room Kit? Where do you get your home decor inspiration?

DIY Chalkboard Frame

I looked at so many of these on Etsy and thought why would I buy one when I could easily make it myself? I am going to be using my chalkboard for the donut station at my wedding. Really, are there any better favors than mini bites of heaven? I'm so excited.

As you can see, I also tested out a blue chalkboard paint from a bottle by Martha Stewart - The color is gorgeous, but it was a little harder to spread without getting any bubbles or bumps. The spray paint is the best way to produce even results:

Voilà! I will definitely re-purpose this once the wedding is over and display it in our house.

Will you be trying this DIY?

#Kaitlyn