Floral Arranging 101

...or something like that.

A couple weeks ago, Sister asked if I wanted to take a flower arranging class w/ her (there was a Groupon involved, of course). I was super excited as soon as she told me about it. I love flowers...and everything there is to do w/ them! We found out what the choices for the classes were, though...and soon realized they all seemed a bit strange...silk flower door hanger, herb garden, fairy garden?? Weird-o-la. We finally decided on the herb garden...it seemed the most normal.

Once we got to the class (10 minutes late...classy)...our doubts went away. This was a way-cool set up. The lady doing the class owns the business...and she just genuinely loves what she does. We broke into 2 groups (one group started planting and the other made tags for each of the herbs).

*We started w/ tags first...there were tons of markers and papers to choose from.

*We got to use these cute little stakes to put our herb name tags on. I had to have the heart (the only one there)...they're my fav!

*I could have looked around the shop all nite. There were so many pretty flowers and trinkets! I could only imagine the fun things made there.

*Seesters! Wish I had actually taken a pic of my herbs...

but, alas...I did not. So...you'll just have to enjoy this one of us

after we planted. ;)

Thanks to Sister for a great idea! She knows me too well. We've purchased another deal to do a class very soon.

~Hilary~

Sunday Snapshots

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

1. Flowers @ Costco...they're always so pretty! Can't wait 'til it's officially warm enough to do some planting.

2. &3. Love this outft! I would wear a skirt or dress all the time if I could (well...maybe if jammies aren't an option). Dress: Walmart; sweater: Old Navy; necklace & bracelet: vintage; shoes: Target (old). My toes are freshly painted too. I stepped away from my usual dark purple/black to this bright green!

4. It was a good afternoon for relaxing...as you can see Milo even got to enjoy.

5. I recently sold my china hutch...which lived in my kitchen. So...until I figure out what I'm going to do w/ the space...I had to come up w/ some sort of vignette. This table was normally in front of the window in the kitchen...but fits here nicely. Just had to add a mirror from my *ahem* collection of mirrors. (I have a problem...)

6. To finish out the day...popcorn, of course!

~Hilary~

Sunday Snapshots

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

1. Morning walk. The light was so pretty. Everything in the neighborhood looked so magical...and we were just about the only ones out & about...so serene.

2. Look #1 for lunch w/ Eric & Gina. "Dress" (actually a house dress): thrifted; sweater: Old Navy (a couple years ago); long, pink necklace: something I scrounged from Sister; heart necklace: a gift someone must've made for my grandma when she was young...it is carved out of wood and has her name burned into it (her maiden name). How sweet!!

3. Although I really liked that outfit...I just wasn't feeling it for that day. Look #2: same sweater as b/f; dress: Old Navy clearance; necklace: pink one from 1st outfit.

4. Red beans & rice @ Buzzard Billy's...a cajun restaurant that has re-opened downtown. My favorite part of the lunch (other than the company)...the homemade hush puppies...oh, mylanta!

5. A recent spray painting project b/f shot. I painted them w/ a floral spray paint b/c it was the closest pink I could get my hands on...not really sure I love the results. Might be re-spraying w/ some good ol' white.

~Hilary~

Sunday Snapshots

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

1. My spring-time table decor. Thrifted vase filled w/ scraps from my shredder & some eggs I dyed a few years ago. Thinking I might possibly change it up w/ some jelly beans...can't decide...

2. Sheldon catching some rays in his favorite spot. :)

3. My outfit for church...the skirt & shirt were both thrifted (Salvation Army). Skirt was one of 2 from Fossil I scored that shopping trip!

4. Fajitas!!

5. Finally got my jewelry all pretty and organized. I.love.it!

Happy Sunday!

~Hilary~

Bejeweled...

Jewelry, jewelry...oh how I love thee! Vintage jewelry...to be exact. I just can' help myself...when I'm out-and-about @ garage sales, flea markets...wherever...my eyes are always looking for some pretty baubles. I almost have a snobby aversion to new jewelry. Like, how dare it think it's cooler than my lovingly worn, vintage pieces?!?  Alright...so that's a bit extreme...but it's how I feel, in my heart of hearts...about my lovelies.

A must-have when you have a slight problem collecting (anything) is a place to display it. I haven't had a proper home for my pretties...until now. The last of our bedrooms to be redone is now a home-away-from-home for my niece, Miss Addy...and a showcase for my jewelry. I still want to add some details to the room itself...so pics of that project will be coming later. The landing spot for my accessories is done, though...and I couldn't love it more!

I bought 2 towel bar thingies @ IKEA last May (that's how long this idea has been brewing) + 'S' hooks to hang all of my necklaces, headbands, and scarves. There's also a magnetic bar w/ lidded containers (also from IKEA and supposed to be for spices, I think) to hold little things...earrings, rings, pins. Most of my collection is now on display...I do have a few odds & ends in another spot, though. 

I'm so excited to have all of my jewelry organized and visible...the accessorizing possibilities are now endless!

~Hilary~ 

Lady Antebellum

Almost 2 years ago...the hubs bought me tickets to see Lady A @ the Illinois State Fair for my b-day. Why there? Well...during that time...it was the closest to us they were going to be playing. So...we hit the road for Illinois w/ a detour in Le Claire, Iowa...to visit Antique Archaeology. The trip was so much fun...and should have just gotten better. The nite of the concert, however, the weather had other plans...crazy wind & rain. We waited around for 2 hrs hoping the storm would pass...but it wasn't in the cards.

In January...they actually came to Des Moines...yay! Oh wait...I had to work...boo. Nothing was going to stop me from seeing them this time, though...so I bought a couple of tickets to see 'em in Omaha.

So...my friend Jill and I got to enjoy the show at the Mid America Center. What a great show it was, too!

*My travelling outfit...pretty comfy (and included my newly thrifted sweater). It was a little too warm, though...had to stop @ Target for some flip-flops for a bit of relief. ;)

*Some pretties in the Old Market...oh how I'd love to work in a floral shop...

*I picture a really saucy older lady wearing this tee...and I would laugh hysterically if I saw it!

*In the Old Market area there's this really cool Goodwill store. It's like they pick the best stuff and curate it. I didn't find anything on this trip...but if I lived there...it would surely be one of my favorite spots.

*All smiles @ the concert. We decided we were definitely in the 'love bug' section...people were cuddling all around us. :)

*Near the end of the show...Lady Antebellum invited the 2 opening acts (Thompson Square & Darius Rucker) to come back out on stage. This was definitely a really cool thing to see.

*We stayed @ The Magnolia...a boutique hotel in a restored historical apartment building. It's a beautiful space...w/ tons of architectural interest.

What a nice little get-away w/ a friend. Did some shopping...and finally got to see Lady A. :)

~Hilary~

Beyond the Sweatshirt

So...I live a very conflicted life. I love clothes, jewelry, shoes, purses...pretty much anything fashion-y. There is this whole other part of me (the one that wins out most of the time), however, that lives to be uber-comfy. Which is why, most of the time...you will find me in some sort of a work-out pant and hoodie. I love it...but I know it's not the best look for me...

This last weekend, I fought all urges to be cozy in my jams (other than the car ride to our destination), and put on actual clothes, jewelry, shoes...and *gasp* even did my hair! I will say...I felt a lot better about my overall appearance...being in real clothes and all. Will this be a life-changing event for me?? Prob not. Maybe, just maybe, though...I will make more of an effort...

Sweater: Younkers; dress: Target; cami: Target; necklace: vintage; glasses: RayBan; hairpins: Holly Bloom.

~Hilary~

Sunday Snapshots

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

1. Church outfit last week: sweater (Old Navy);

dress (Target--it's a sundress, but I've worn it more to layer in fall and winter than anything else); leggings (Target); boots (Target--are you sensing a theme??); sunglasses (Gap).

2. Milo...a constant mooch...

3. Finally some snow! + a decrepit bench I got for free at the tag sales South of Grand 2 years ago. I had grand hopes of fixing it up...instead, it's gotten 100x worse. It's going to my curb soon.

4. Mad @ the world that he can't be outside too.

5. Oh, Reese's egg...why must you tempt me??

6., 7., & 8. Mag.a.zines! They're everywhere in the house right now. Apparently, I need some down-time for some serious reading.

9. Score @ Target! I've been eyeing these boots for the entire season...picked them up yesterday for $11.98. The animal print flats, my mom snagged for less than $7. (Gonna have to make some room for them, though...time to purge...)

*A few pics from last week...a few from this week. I promise to get back on track from blogging this week. I've been struggling with getting anything done the last couple of weeks (a post on that to come).

Grab my button on the side bar to share and link up below! :)



~Hilary~

Saturday was a cah-razy busy day,
but also, a lot of fun...so I guess I
shouldn't complain. ;)

*B'fast w/ the Hubs @ Baby Boomers (might be my new favorite). I enjoyed an omelet, hashbrowns...and this

way-delish pancake. Next time...I think I'll just have pancakes...they're amaze!

*Homemade bodywash...a swing and a miss...oopsie! The Hubs just shook his head when I admitted to not using one certain recipe, but instead, combining a few. He's not sure how I've 'lived so long not following the rules.' So...what I ended up w/ isn't quite ready to use as a bodywash...but will be very good as a moisturizing bath oil. Back to the drawing board, I guess.

*Kinda tough to see...but there's a violet streak of hair in there. Katie and I braved another trend (1st were feathers) and had a strip of hair dyed. I like it a lot!

*Took another spin at Glazed Expressions and painted a light switch plate for the bedroom we're working on. Although...at the rate we're going...this little gem may never have a home...

*Oh what's that? Self portrait...my signature...holla!

*Ended the nite w/ some french silk pie (woops...ate the chocolate curls b/f I took the pic) w/ Katie & Erin. Thanks, ladies, for a fun nite! :)

*Whew!* I need a nappy after all of that!

~Hilary~

Sunday Snapshots

Okay, folks...doing something a little different w/ Sunday Snapshots. I'm still going to give y'all a peek of my Sunday fun...but I'd like you to share some pics from your day!

This'll be a weekly link-up...and be sure to grab the Sunday Snapshots button. :)

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

1. Sheldon getting crazzzzyyyy...high on a little catnip.

2. B'fast: scrambled eggs & salsa, toast, and Polish Kielbasa.

3. Amaze new mascara (Christmas present from Sister)...Benefit BadGal Lash from Sephora.

4. Looking for eagles after church...didn't spot any...but the scenery was soverypretty!

5. Second-day hair...I love it!

6. Miss Addy...getting ready to enjoy some Mexican at la la la la La Bamba.

7. Outfit (hard to see...lighting was weird): shirt (Dress Barn); sweater (Costco); jeans (Target, clearance); shoes (Ugg slippers, Christmas present); necklaces (vintage & 'H' pendant from Sister).

8. Quiche...ohmygoodness! Ready to go for dinner Tuesday. Weird to make so far in advance, I know...but that's the great thing about quiche! It stores so well...and is just as delish! So...Sunday afternoons, I have a little extra time...perfect opportunity to get dinner ready for a weeknite. Saves me from rushing later. :)

Okay...so, you've seen what my day was all about...now, a peek at yours!

Link up below and grab the button to share on your post.

~Hilary~