May your holiday be merry and bright!

I will be taking a break for the next week so I can try to enjoy all of this chaos! I still have gifts to wrap, packing to do and trips to make! Wishing you the happiest of holidays! See you soon!

Final Master Bedroom Plan

Well, hopefully! I have had such a hard time nailing down a plan for the master bedroom. There are so many directions that I would like to take but I think I may have found the winner! Hoping to get going full force after Christmas!!

The It List!

Happy Friday! Gearing up for a holiday part tomorrow night and and still need a dirty santa gift (can be actually dirty or just funny) and am accepting any and all ideas... give me your best!



The IT list is signing off for 2011... But we'll be back in 2012!Enjoy these links in the meantime!

• good clean fun whips up a batch of apple banana pancakes - these have Christmas Break breakfast written all over them! Yum! (find good clean fun on twitter!)


• the posh blog whips up what looks to be the easiest and tastiest cocktail ever - perfect for Christmas brunch or New Years Eve.  (find the posh blog on twitter!)


• the capital barbie has a round up of Christmas gifts that you can give that give back.  I love this idea, check out her picks! (find the capital barbie on twitter!)


• life told by leslie is sporting an adorable leopard print cardigan. I've got to get one of these - see how she styled it! 


• free to be stacia lee is looking adorable in this casual chic outfit - check out her cute boots! (find free to be stacia lee on twitter!)


• suze wears clothes has fallen in love... with her scarf. I don't blame her!  Check it out. (find suze wears clothes on twitter!)


• gs lillian is looking rainy-day-chic, which isn't easy to do!  Check out her adorable outfit and red (!!!) shoes. (find gs lillian on twitter!)


• a spot of whimsy is our resident ballet-enthusiast (love it!)... she's headed to the Nutcracker performance but left some eye candy for us. Swoon!  (find a spot of whimsy on twitter!)


• second street east has a really easy and fun Christmas ornament diy. I love this idea and that you can personalize it to suit your decor and taste! (find second street east on twitter!)


• the daily be is going "western" in this adorable outfit... check it out and you've got to see her sweet boots! (find the daily be on twitter!)


• the tiemann girls have a really fun way to give the gift of cash this holiday season.  See how they do it!


• so much to smile about is your go-to source for holiday beauty.  Check out her tips and tricks! (find so much to smile about on twitter!)


• sweetie pie style rounds up her favorite Christmas decor inspiration and includes this really fun idea for a tasty appetizer that I totally want to try! (find sweetie pie style on twitter!)


• rachael, really is looking absolutely gorgeous in winter white and red for the holidays. Go check out her outfit and steal it for Christmas - I might! (find rachael, really on twitter!)

the IT list is produced weekly by Jill of good life, for information on how you can be involved, click here!

A Sketch

I sketched a cute little pansy for our bedroom. I love the ink flowers I did earlier this year so I decided to try my hand again and I love the way it turned out!





Still need to style the table and hang up the picture, but looking good for now!

New Bedroom Inspiration

I have been dragging my feet on the bedroom redo, probably because I wasn't that excited about the direction it was going. So... new inspiration via Pinterest). Big (green!) things are about to happen. Getting excited!

DIY: Ornaments

Happy Monday! I gave in and bought a real tabletop tree last week! We put up a fake tree this year and I was missing the smell and life a real one brings to the house. Since I haven't done this before, I needed new ornaments and decided to DIY them of course!

I bought clear glass bulbs at the craft store and just filled them up with paint. I mixed colors in some and did some solids. I love the way they turned out! They look so much more expensive that just buying colored ornaments at target!











Have you done any last minutes DIY projects for Christmas?

The It List!

Happy Friday! Hoping to make a little progress on our bedroom this weekend...painting the dresser and DIY'ing a bench. We'll see. I always have high hopes!



Happy Friday!  Take some time to check out these great links!

• i love that features the best beauty trends for the holidays... including the bold red lip (a la Taylor Swift). Check out her tips!


• the capital barbie rounds up sweaters for men - which happens to be my favorite gift to give this time of year!   See what her top picks are.  (find the capital barbie on twitter!)


• the posh blog has her gift picks for teens - aren't they so hard to buy for? I love her ideas and this little camera is too fun! (find the posh blog on twitter!)


• suze wears clothes puts together three fun looks around this gorgeous floral scarf.  See how she styles it up! (find suze wears clothes on twitter!)


• second street east DIY's a holiday wreath - the finished product is gorgeous and it looks so simple!  Don't miss this tutorial! (find second street east on twitter!)


• sweetie pie style rounds up her inspiration each week in a not-to-be-missed post.  I'm drooling over this statement wallpaper for a powder room! (find sweetie pie style on twitter!)


• free to be stacia lee pulls together a really gorgeous casual holiday look. I am now completely drooling over this lace top! (find free to be stacia lee on twitter!)


• a spot of whimsy hits the nail on the head with another thought provoking post in her "she" series. Check out the simple but thoughtful post!  Don't you want to be this gal? (find a spot of whimsy on twitter!)


• gs lillian manages to convince me I need an orange coat and matching shoes this winter with just one post.  Doesn't she look amazing? (find gs lillian on twitter!)


• the tiemann girls give a quick diy on how to make the perfect bow from tulle. I am in love with this idea... time to get wrapping!


• the daily be (formerly 'things i do think wear see love dream') wears one pair of khakis in two different outfits.  Check out her looks and be inspired for khakis beyond business casual! (find the daily be on twitter!)


• so much to smile about rounds up a fun gift guide for the homebody that I am loving.  Candles, blankets and cozy clothes, yes please! (find so much to smile about on twitter!)


• rachael, really says 'merry december' with this gorgeous fall/winter outfit.  If you are in a warmer climate... you know fall just arrived! (find rachael, really on twitter!)

the IT list is produced weekly by Jill of good life for less, for info on how you can be involved - click here! 

See you Monday!

Guest Posting: Holiday Wish List

Just popping in to let you know that I am guest posting over at FiFi Cheek today!



Go check it out here!

Christmas Gift to Ourselves

So the hubs and I have been talking about what to get each other for Christmas for a while. We originally decided on a new mattress (since ours is just a hand-me-down) but it isn't bothering either of us. I sleep just fine, so why drop a big chunk of change on that? So we recently decided to do all new bed linens (including mattress pad, pillows etc.), which is perfect because I want to makeover our bedroom. I plan to do white sheets and a white duvet and am open to suggestions! Do any of you have sheets that are ah-mazing? If so, please share! For the duvet, I have been wanting this from Lands End for a while...



It is a linen duvet but I love the coral/red border around it! For some reason, I have not been able to pull the trigger. If I go with this, my whole plan is off since the color is all wrong....do any of you have a linen duvet? I don't even know if I would like linen?

If I order today, I will get $40 off so any suggestions are welcome!

Are you making any big purchases this year for Christmas?

iPad Case

I was browsing in J Crew last night and found the CUTEST iPad case. Except there is a problem. It is for the 2 and I have the original. But I figured I would pass it along in case you are in the market!





Find them here. Best news? They are on sale. Please someone buy this!

DIY: Wreath

My wreath philosophy is the simpler the better and this DIY is both visually simple and simple to make!

I picked up some garland (white pine?) at Home Depot and a wreath form and floral wire at Michael's.





Just unroll the garland and use the floral wire to attach it to the form. I went around twice, once on the outermost ring and once on the innermost ring.



Then I just looped a piece of grosgrain ribbon around the wreath and tied a bow. It is hanging on a command hook stuck right on the glass, which has been there for two months with no problems! Impressive! (My husband won't let me get rid of our storm door...boo!)

Sorry you can see my reflection in the mirror... in sweats. It was a sick day for me and that was as good as it was going to get!







I love this because it is like the wreath equivalent of the messy bun, which I rock on a quite regular basis!

Design*Sponge at Home Giveaway Winner!

Emily from Main Street Chic! By the way, she has a super cute blog! Definitely go check her out!

I will see you back here tomorrow for some Christmas DIY!

Weekend Roundup: OSU Football

Adam and I traveled back to our alma mater for the final OSU season game against OU for the Big 12 Championship. We have not won this game, dubbed Bedlam, in the past 8 or 9 years and have never technically won a Big 12 Championship so the stakes were high. But we availed! It was one of the greatest moments as an OSU fan EVER. The field was stormed and goal posts came down. Amazing.









Adam was so happy!



In other news, Ellie girl is gearing up for Christmas! I think we are a little more excited than she is...



I hope everyone had a good weekend. I will be choosing the giveaway winner later this morning so check back to see if you won!!

The It List!

Happy Friday! I am heading to Oklahoma today for OSU's last and biggest game of the season. Go Pokes! Hope everyone enjoys their weekend and I will see you back here on Monday!

Now that it's December the holiday season is in full swing and this week's IT list has a decidedly holiday feel to it! Check out these great links!

• free to be stacia lee shows off a fun look for a holiday girls night out! I'm loving the dressy shorts and tights combo here!


• the posh blog pulled together a super fun Twelve POSH Days of Christmas! You have to check this out... my favorite? Three french macaroons... (find the posh blog on twitter!)


• gs lillian is hosting a fabulous giveaway for 6 (yes, six!) of her gorgeous cuff bracelets! All you have to do is link up with your holiday wish list! Easy, huh? (find gs lillian on twitter!)


• sweetie pie style rounds up my new favorite winter layering piece - the vest! Check out her picks and inspirations! (find sweetie pie style on twitter!)


• suze wears clothes puts together three looks based on one gorgeous camel colored blazer. Check out these looks that are perfect for the holiday season! (find size wears clothes on twitter!)


• sweet life a la carte was innocently getting holiday pictures taken when the photoshoot suddenly turned into engagement photos! He proposed! Check out these sweet photos! (find sweet life a la carte on twitter!)


• second street east is giving away a copy of Design*Sponge's new book! Stop by her blog to enter to win one for yourself or for a friend! (find second street east on twitter!)


• i love that is swooning over Gwenyth Paltrow's hair... but who doesn't really? Check out this eye candy and potential inspiration for holiday hair dos!


• things i do think wear see love dream is sporting a trend-trifecta! I love this look... see how she pulls together three hot trends in one super hot look! (find things i... on twitter!)


• the tiemann girls show off their holiday paper stash (jealous!) plus, the one thing they do to remind themselves of the reason for the season. I love this inspiration!


• so much to smile about has the ultimate gift guide for a blogger. This list is SO fabulous, but my favorite is the Inslee fashion illustrations. Yes, please! (find so much to smile about on twitter!)


• good clean fun whips up a batch of roasted butternut squash risotto! I love risotto for winter - it's great comfort food! Check out her recipe... (find good clean fun on twitter!)


• the capital barbie has a full round up of 'smoking' loafers. These are the hottest shoes this season and I love that the look so comfortable! Check out her picks! (find the capital barbie on twitter!)


• life told my leslie features yet another shorts and tights look for winter! I am loving this trend - check out how she pulls it together!


• a spot of whimsy pulls out tons of inspiration for advent calendars this holiday season. You have to check out all of this inspiration! (find a spot of whimsy on twitter!)

the IT list is produced weekly by jill of good life for less - for info on how you can be involved, click here!

**Don't forget to sign up for the Design*Sponge at Home giveaway. Entries close Monday 12/5 at midnight!

Thrifty Find: Art

I have been trying to do some thrift shopping more regularly during my lunch breaks and found these three prints all ready to go in GOLD frames! Perfection!









Oh and the best news? They were only $25 for all three! Perrrrfect. Now I can't decide where to put them... currently thinking bedroom? Have you found any gooides at the thrift store lately?

**Don't forget to sign up for the Design*Sponge at Home giveaway. Entries close Monday 12/5 at midnight!

Holiday DIY Roundup

Sorry for being MIA yesterday, I am a little under the weather and the only thing I did all day was watch The Millionaire Matchmaker. Allll day. I realize that is ridiculous. But it is definitely time to get our Holiday decor out so here are my favorite DIY's this season, some of which I am going to be partaking in myself!

Alternative Christmas Tree via The Haystack Needle

Paint Ornaments via Fancy House Road



Letter Place Cards via HGTV



Holiday Topiary via House and Home



Wreath via Frolic



Globe Snowmen via Emily Henderson



Do you have any Holiday DIY projects in the works? I'd love to know!

**Don't forget to sign up for the Design*Sponge at Home giveaway. Entries close Monday 12/5 at midnight!

Giveaway: Design*Sponge at Home

Happy Holidays, friends! I hope you all had a wonderful Thankgiving! I wanted to start off the Christmas season with a giveaway and what better than one of my favorite books? Remember when I met Grace and had my book signed in Austin? Well since then I have been devouring this inspirational book and would love to share it with one of you! Already have one? This would also make an amazing Christmas gift!

Over the weekend, I also noticed that Amazon has dropped the price of Design*Sponge at Hometo $17.50 so if you don't win the giveaway, you can still pick one up at a great price!

How to win Design*Sponge at Home:
You must be a follower of SSE. If you already are, perfect! If not, just click join this site in the right hand column.

For additional entries you can:
1. Follow SSE on Twitter
2. Tweet about this giveaway, mentioning @SecondStEast and linking back to this post
3. Tell your Facebook friends about the giveaway and link back to this post
4. Blog about the giveaway and link back to this post

Be sure to leave a comment for each of the above! This giveaway ends Monday 12/5 at midnight and the winner will be announced Tuesday morning!

Happy Thanksgiving!

*image via Lonny

Happy Thanksgiving, friends. I hope you all have a wonderful holiday filled with joy, fellowship and of course delicious food. My husband and I will be in Oklahoma until Sunday and I can't wait to see my wonderful family!

Come back Monday for a fun giveaway!

DIY: Glitter Circles Garland

What is it about Christmas that makes me crave glitter? Is it just me? I decided on this glitter circles garland after I found the paper at Hobby Lobby. It drew me in and I knew I had to make something out of it. This is a simple and quick way to make a garland for your tree, mantle or anywhere!

You will need thick craft paper, a circle punch, fishing line and some sort of glue (I used rubber cement).



All you do is cut out circles with the punch and them glue two together on the fishing line so that both sides are glitter! Pretty simple!

I tried it out on my mantle first...





But decided I would like it better on the tree!







Have you made anything for the holidays yet?