Bar Carts

Bar carts have become a recent trend, and while I was planning to stock my bar with something other than wine, I thought it would be the perfect addition to our apartment! We have a lot of underutilized space in our current apartment due to the layout, and because we're renters, that means we have a lot of white walls.

I took to Pinterest for some inspiration as to how I wanted to decorate my new bar cart, and these were some of my favorites:

{all images via}

It took me awhile to gather a collection of liquor (essentials include vodka, rum, gin, tequila, bourbon, and whiskey) plus some extras, so now we're ready for a party at a moment's notice!

The bar car is still a work in progress, but it adds a nice flair to our place!

And in the meantime, I happened to find my signature drink, too: a moscow mule!

Lauren gave me a copper mug for Christmas so I can have my favorite cocktail anytime I want!

1.5 ounces vodka
1/2 ounce lime juice
1/2 cup ginger beer
Lime wedges for garnish

Enjoy!

(Disclaimer: This post has no other point other than to say I've been working 65 hours a week and need to drink heavily to otherwise survive.)

Shopping Spree!

I can usually go a while without buying something new, but when I do decide to loosen the purse strings a little, I tend to go a little crazy. Here are a few of my most recent purchases I thought were worth sharing!

Nike Icon Two-in-One Shorts

I've mentioned my love of the hidden compression short before, but Nike's new version is a million times better. I found a sale online and bought 4 pairs. There is nothing wrong with wearing every color of the rainbow while working out.

Initial necklace from Fifth & Mae

When I saw all the buzz about Fifth & Mae on Twitter, I just had to pick out something! This mini initial necklace is perfect (and really inexpensive) - it's my go-to necklace now!

Books and Notes from May Designs

I'm in love with these customizable notebooks and note cards! I'm always making daily to-do lists on any post-it note/note pad I can get my hands on at work, so I figured it was about time I keep my lists all in one place! I bought one for work and one for personal lists (with dotted lines inside) and couldn't pass up a set of stationery too! I love that no two notebooks are alike!

Campaign Chair from World Market

I mentioned a century ago that I wanted a new desk space in my apartment. I finally took the plunge and bought a new Mac, the Sloane desk from Crate & Barrel, and to complete the ensemble, finally found a desk chair I liked. It took over 6 months to get this space how I wanted it!

And the most exciting purchase of all...

cobble hill little curtis by kate spade

This is my newest baby. I've wanted a neutral grey leather purse for over a year and kept waiting for the perfect style. Once I saw this cutie online, and it was tax free weekend and I had a coupon, I just had to take it home with me. I love having a cross-body bag that holds everything! I keep referring to it as my child when people compliment me, and I think they think I'm weird.

Before you all turn me in to Shopper's Anonymous, I promise I spread these purchases over several months!

What have you bought lately that you're loving? (Like I need any more ideas...)

The search continues..

I promise I didn't mean to leave you with such a cliffhanger.

But I'm sure you all know by now, if I had good news to report, I would've done so sooner.

The house was a major letdown.

Actually, the house was perfect. Hardwood floors, ample closet space, a garage, an open kitchen with an island and a direct view of the fireplace, and an extra large patio for entertaining with my best friends and family.

The location - not so much. The house was on a busy street and all you could hear was street noise when you stepped inside. This was probably something that wouldn't bother me; I live on a crowded street now. But for resale value, that was a red flag. And that perfect patio I mentioned? It had a direct view of the street. There were no trees, no fence, nothing in the way of privacy. I've been dreaming of the parties I could throw on my non-existent back porch, but I hadn't planned on inviting the entire city of Greenville to watch. Sigh.

So we're back to square one. I have no houses currently in the running as even a possibility, but my realtor promises me the right house will come along.

In the meantime, I'm dreaming up a color scheme for the yet-to-be-found new house.

I want a dreamy, cozy, dark grey bedroom like this one:

 

 

A cream, blue, grey, and yellow living room complete with a sectional couch:

 

 

 

 

And a bright, airy kitchen like this one:

 

 

 

Finding the right house is only half the battle right? Then you get to decorate and furnish the whole thing!

 

All images via Pinterest.

 

What's your favorite color scheme? I am 100% a lover of all things blue, if you couldn't tell already.





Wednesday Randoms

It's no secret I love to travel, and recently I've especially been bitten by the travel bug. Of the last 9 weekends, I've only spent 2 of them in Greenville. 7 weekends in 5 different states. Even I agree it's a little excessive. But that doesn't mean I haven't planned a few more trips for this year.

Ryan and I just booked flights to Boston!! I'm so excited to cross another state off my list and Boston has been on my list of cities to visit for a while now. Everyone I know who has visited loves it, and we're going this September for the Clemson/Boston College football game. Fall in Boston?! I'm practically giddy already. I've already bought Fodor's Boston Travel Guide in preparation. We're thinking of staying in Cambridge near Harvard, and we'll definitely be stopping by Fenway Park. Here's where y'all come in: I need suggestions! Food, sights, anything!

Boston skyline, we'll meet soon!

I also planned another trip. I'm not usually one for spontaneity (let's face it, I'm Type-A by nature), but when a Living Social deal came up for a two-night stay at The Inn at Middleton Place, I knew I had to scoop it up. I stayed here with my parents several years ago for a hopsital meeting my dad was attending, and it's a really neat location. It's an old plantation, but the Inn is really modern.

via





I wanted to surprise Ryan with the trip for our one-year anniversary, but he's not big on surprises so I went ahead and told him (I know, I'm a terrible secret keeper)! I can't wait to go back to Charleston since it's been awhile and our deep-sea fishing trip got scrapped a few months ago.

What am I going to do with myself once my travel calendar is sadly empty? Fortunately for me, by the time December rolls around (our anniversary), it'll be time for busy season to get into full swing. So I'll just continue to dream of vacations for next year!

But in the interest of a weekend in Greenville, I have a few to-do projects that have been neglected far too long. 

I'm on the search for a new desk. I have my old chair and desk from college, and frankly, it's not very mature. I wasn't sure if I would use the desk when working from home during busy season, so I just moved the setup from college to Greenville. I was right in thinking it wouldn't get used, but I still want to have a pretty place to keep my laptop and store straw baskets to hold all my junk for decoration.

Here's the current setup which I'm even embarrassed to post:

That black office chair? My gosh, that's tacky.

I only paid about $50 for this desk a few years ago, and it got its use in college, so I don't really have a problem parting with it and donating it.

I have my eye on something similar to this desk I found at Target:

Looks much more grown up, doesn't it? Perhaps with a cute yellow chair, like this:

via

Or how pretty is this bright workspace?

I really don't want to spend a lot of money, mainly because it'll be an extremely underused area of my room. But I still want it to look pretty, because I see it every day (I don't have an office where I can just shut the door). Once I get an idea in my head, it's all I can think about! Is everyone else the same way with home decor? I just want to get it over with and all settled the way I like it! Of course, there's some organization that will have to be done, but that'll give me some motivation for a new workspace! 

Here's to marking a few things off my to-do list this weekend!