Hump Day Happy Hour with Ampersand Design Studio

Well hello Second Street East-ers!! I'm Morgan, one half of Ampersand Design Studio, and I am thrilled to be here hosting a little happy hour just for you! I'm dreaming of an über-colorful, super-bright, summery backyard party with this raspberry beer cocktail as the main event!! Won't you all come on over and join me?!

Come on out to the back porch and make yourselves at home in this Hans Wegner chair! To shade my face,  I'll be wearing these sunnies but you might need to bring a pair as well, because I'll be sporting this blinding, glam cocktail ring! I'll be happily serving up these Raspberry Beer Cocktails,stirred with some fresh lemon and raspberries on this fab aqua tray! It's 5:00 o'clock somewhere, right? Let's get this party started!

Ok, ok....just in case you can't join me today,  here's the recipe to make them for yourselves (courtesty of A Cup of Mai):

Raspberry Beer Cocktail
Ingredients
1 cup of fresh raspberries or frozen
4 bottles of corona (12oz) beer, chilled 
1 container frozen raspberry lemonade concentrate, thawed or pink lemonade
1/2 cup good quality vodka
Garnish: lemon slices, or raspberries.
adapted from Southern Living

Method
In a large container stir together the  first 4 ingredients. Serve over ice.
Garnish with raspberries.
To make ahead, stir together lemonade concentrate and vodka in a large container.    Stir in raspberries and beer just before serving. Garnish, if desired.

Isn't Morgan the cutest?! She is seriously one of those people that I feel like I have known for years! Definitely going to have to have a raspberry beer cocktail with her in person since she is only a few miles away!! Cheers!

Outfit to Room

The only good thing about moving is discovering old clothes that I forgot I had! This top and skirt are what I like to call vintage Forever 21. If a F21"piece" makes it more than two years, it should be dubbed vintage from now on. Deal? I discovered some other stuff while moving... like I hoard specific things like spices, lotion, wood chips and oats. It's a little ridiculous.  

Oh yes, and this is a little sneak peak of the new house. A second story deck... pretty snazzy, huh?

Top - Vintage F21 / Skirt - Vintage F21 / Belt - Target / Shoes - Target

Rug / Chairs / Chandelier / Table / Centerpiece

Wood Tile

Guys! We have practically unpacked the entire house! Adam's parents were in town and it was the most productive weekend ever. This means I can get back to making pillows. Oh, and in case you were wondering - we still don't own the house yet...

With all of this waiting, I have had a lot of time to brainstorm on projects for the house (probably a little too much!). Since we are doing the basement first (the drinking & TV room), I need to nail down some flooring..that was a pretty good pun! I had originally thought we would do some type of laminate or engineered flooring but I am a little worried about Sassy the lab and her "claws" on the floor. I was in Lowe's over the weekend and came across some wood ceramic tile, which I had seen before but forgotten about. Do any of you have experience with this? Have it in your own house or have seen it in a friend's?

Source

Source

I think it will warm up the space nicely while being water and dog friendly.

Thoughts? Opinions? Warnings?

Second and Dahlia's Style Steals

Happy post fourth! I am still a little sluggish after all of yersterday's activities but it isn't time for a red white and blue detox just yet! Jessica and I were feeling patriotic when we found this room and knew it was the perfect inspiration for this week! Kind of dying over the coral necklace she found!!

Jumper / Shoes / Necklace / Scarf / Clutch

Fabric for Curtains / Rug / Fabric for Benches / Pillow / Art / Table

Red White and Blue

Happy Fourth, friends! Heading to the pool today and then dinner and fireworks tonight! I wouldn't mind coming home to this fourth-ready room from Coastal Living tonight for a little slumber :)

Have a wonderful day!

The One

I have found the perfect rug for the bedroom! Thank you, Rugs USA, for offering a nice alternative to the vintage Beni Ourain rugs. 

I am going to do 2 5 x 7's to make a 10 x 14 since our bedroom is pretty large. Even if there "JULY75" discount code is a marketing gimmick, it feels pretty good to go from $1366 to $340. 

Oh and did I mention that the walls are going black in the bedroom? Well, not until we officially own it, but after that - black it is!

Things to Remember

Happy Monday! First a little update on the house - we are having to start all over with a new mortgage company. Fixing all 52 things that were on the inspection report just wasn't really an option at this point. So we are looking at three-ish weeks at this point? Dying to share plans and pictures with you guys! 

On to the post! I have been saving some images from instagram (mine and others) lately of noteworthy things I want to remember. A little tour, shall we?

1. The tile in this photo (especially the floor) and the outfit isn't too bad either! (via Tulip Louise Instagram)

2. Snapped a photo of this home's curb appeal in our new neighborhood. Very similar setup to our new home and love the paint/entry that they have done. Need ours to look a little more like this.

3. Need to find a recipe for this jalepeno dill (I think?) shrimp. (via Modern Eve Instagram)

4. Loving these Serena and Lily chairs... want to find somewhere to use them! (via Amber Interiors Instagram)

5. Thinking I should try this new Silk Fruit and Protein drink.. (via Dirty Laundry Instagram)

6. Loving the lime green and purple plants in a planter I snapped a photo of. Must recreate! 

7. A Dr. Oz smoothie that needs trying.

Where have y'all been finding inspiration lately?