eclectic entryway gallery wall.

i really love our entryway.

guests step off our front porch into this cozy little area of our house, with stone floors and light grey walls.  i have had a beautiful green buffet from my favorite antique store that i bought last summer, but it's been pretty empty other than that for the past few months.  over the summer i've been trying to finish it up!  i still have a few projects in the works, but i was eager to complete this one.

i have a thing for gallery walls (if you can't tell from my house).  i love, love, love them.  most of mine are full of pictures, but i wanted a really eclectic one for our entryway in a giant blank space we have above a little bench.  it was really important to me that it represented our family and all the things that we want our home to be about.  

i tried a few different things and hemmed and hawed over what i wanted it to look like.  i changed it a few times (ok: you guys do NOT want to know how many nail holes are in this wall...yikes) and ultimately came up with this:

and i just love it.  i wanted it to be full of things that say "us" as we welcome friends and family into our home.  i love color, words that are special to us, different textures and pictures, so this wall just really makes me so very happy.  here's a closer look at all of the pieces:

i knew from the beginning i wanted this verse displayed in our entryway; it is such an expression of our family and what is most important to us.  i've been wanting to try my hand at embroidery for a while now: yall, i used to faithfully cross-stitch when i was a little girl.  i think i started a million different ones and never actually finished any of them, but see?  i was a grandma at like age eight.  and i loved it.  so in an effort to return to my stitching roots, i ordered this pattern off of etsy, transferred it with dressmaking paper to the embroidery fabric and needled away.  it's definitely not perfect, but i love it.  and now i want a new embroidery project...definitely addicting!

this is one of my favorite parts of the whole wall.  i found these little typography porclein trays at nordstrom for ten bucks.  i seriously love them (and the "c" just happened to be yellow&turquoise...it was so meant to be).  i knew i wanted to put mine on this gallery wall, so i just glued a ribbon loop on the back so i could hang it in the middle of a frame. check them out; they're so cute!

there's my ikea kvill frame again; this baby is plastic and only like four dollars, but i love it and want one for every room.  this one displays one of my favorite family pics that was taken last fall by a great photographer here in maine (cait wilson photography; check her out!  she is awesome!)  i love how my coral sweater and bella's coral shoes match my "home sweet home" print.  i know; i'm such a nerd.

a while ago, i found this strip of wood in our garage in a scrap pile and i grabbed it as fast as i could.  i love how it looks weathered and the little knot hole in the end just adds character.  with just a coat of paint and some cursive writing in bright paint, i knew it was just perfect for my wall.  i thought and thought about a word that i wanted to describe the mission of our family and what captured us, and finally i landed on "love".  when i was single, if anyone asked me what i looked for in a man, i always said that i wanted to find someone who "loved jesus and loved others".  when i met nick, this was totally his heartbeat (and the verse he had on his myspace page... yes, myspace...i know, we are old!)  i want our home to be a place where people feel loved; not just our girls, but all who enter.  

i found this plate at tj's on clearance a couple of years ago for like three dollars: score.  it's perfect for the vintage-y theme of our home.  the photo above it is one of my favs taken by my dear friend of amanda kate photography; if you're in dallas, look her up!  you will not regret it, friends!!  i wanted to do something different, so i took the glass out and just used scotch tape to stick the photo to the wall in the middle of the frame.

if you've been following my blog for any amount of time, you know that i love lace and i love doilies.  i've refered to my decorating style as "funkified grandma"; it's totally true.  i love decorating with embroidery hoops to add pops of color and also some variation in shape and texture.

i'm in love with all things katie daisy and her etsy shop, the wheatfield.  i have a few of her prints in our home, and wanted this one for our entryway (for obvious reasons).  my sweet sister surprised me with it for my birthday last year, and i was so excited!  i love the color and cheerfulness that it gives this wall.

there you have it, guys.  an eclectic entryway gallery wall with so many things precious to my family's heart.  i love this sweet little display.  i am a firm believer in decorating with things you love, items that represent you and what makes you happy.  this is a perfect example of that for me.

because home should be sweet.

what i'm loving.

a few things i'm loving these days...

-  cut and seal sandwich cutter from pampered chef.  makes those almost-daily pb sandwiches a little bit more fun.

{source}

-  college basketball.  final four this weekend... every year i get sad when it is over.
-  catalina mist spray paint by krylon.  i'm obsessed with this color and can't seem to find it anywhere, which makes me want it even more.

{source}

-  vintage tablecloths.
-  grilling burgers with the mr.  doing it for our dinner tonight and i am so excited.  it's the little things.
-  these ikea planters.

{source}

-  country living magazine.  especially whilst drinking a cup of coffee.  when the house is quiet.
-  emmy's oh-so-cute birthday dress.

{source}

-  my newest shows: revenge and nashville.  love live tammy taylor.

-  barn lights.  and edison light bulbs.

{source}

-  almonds roasted with sea salt.
-  super why.  bella's latest show obsession.  do i mind?  no way.  beats barney (what doesn't, really?  oh, beside the wiggles) and she now knows all of her letters.
-  katie daisy prints.  she is my fav artist and i am slowly collecting her prints around our home.  my sis just got me this one i've been wanting for our entryway.  she's the best.

{source}

-  winter melting into spring.  love the reminder of *hope*.
-  planning my garden and flowerbeds... someday.
-  daffodils.

{source}

-  groopdealz.com.  if you don't subscribe, you should.

-  this swimsuit for my 3 yr old bathing beauty.

{source}

-  hangin at the park.  the best.
-  trader joe's tomato&basil hummus.  especially with their whole wheat pretzels.  delish.
-  my colorblock dress.  nick calls it my "hippie" dress.  i love it, though.

{source}

-  side braids.  my hair is waaaaay too long these days, so i've been having to find creative ways to wear it back.  haircut coming soon.  can't.hardly.wait.

-  trader joes masala simmer sauce.  quick, tasty dinner and a pleasant surprise?  my kids love chicken tikki masala.  even better.

my favorite things.

pssssst... christmas is twenty days away!  in typical oprah-style, here is my list of twenty five of my favorite things.  some of them i have and love; others are on my wish list for "someday".  either way, here are a few oh-so-lovely gift ideas.  i apologize this isn't like oprah where i'll be giving you any of this stuff... but i did provide the links for you in case you want to give any of these gifts to loved ones this year... isn't that almost as awesome as giving you all new cars??

i thought so.  and here you go...

from top left to bottom right:

vera bradley folkloric tote bag 

{ebay}

i have been obsessed with this vera print ever since i saw jessica biel carry it on the movie new years eve.

, tea & toast butter dish 

{anthropologie}

i love this butter dish and it's cute little name.

"filled with joy" print 

{the wheatfield on etsy}

one of my fav etsy shops... i love this artist and her eclectic, colorful prints!

ung drill picture frame 

{ikea}

been tempted to make the four hour drive to our closest ikea to get this frame.  what color would i spray paint this baby...

perfect khaki pants 

{gap}

one of my christmas present purchases; love the fit of these pants and the color is just so fun!

, pumpkin pancake & waffle mix 

{trader joes}

a must have for every family.  our saturday morning standard ala nick.

 classic cardy boots 

{ugg}

love these comfy uggs.  need to replace my former pair since it has a giant hole in the toe...

"well with my soul" necklace 

{lisa leonard designs}

i have a couple lisa leonard necklaces and i just love them.  this one is from her faith collection.

 kitchenaid mixer 

{macy's}

my mom surprised my sis and i with kitchenaid mixers this fall.  one day i used it three times.  a must have for any cook or baker!

paperwhites 

{christmastree shop}

planted my first paperwhites a few days ago and my fingers are crossed (i do not have a green thumb and am trying to change that!).  these lovelies are super cheap at the christmastree shop; i think i saw 3.99!

crystal necklace 

{le mode accessories}

love this elegant necklace for a touch of feminine sparkle.

round pintuck pillow 

{urban outfitters}

i bought the turquoise one last year and it is one of my fav things in our home.  love the intricate detail and the luxurious velvet.

kvill picture frame 

{ikea}

another favorite ikea find.  this pretty little sucker is only 4.99!  i have one and am in need of like twenty more.  just kidding.  but shhhh... it's plastic; don't tell!

 homegrown monogram mugs 

{anthropologie}

nick&i have drunk many a saturday morning coffee out of our traditional anthro monogram mugs we got as a wedding gift... but i love these new colorful ones!  and only 8 bucks!

monogram locket ornament 

{potterybarn}

a little pricey, but such a pretty, nostalgic touch for any tree.  a great gift!

grapefruit sugar bowl 

{anthropologie}

how cute is this?!  i want to get it even though we don't really eat much sugar these days it's just that adorable.

 aqua spice jar with chalk label

{world market}

these babies are pricey but they are just so cute.  i'm obsessing over them a little bit.

garlic press 

{pampered chef}

hands down one of my most used and most beloved kitchen tool!

herbal popcorn 

{little lads}

my newest addiction.  i buy it at our local health food store, but it's available online!  and it's super healthy and all natural.  come on... you know you want some...

silver wedge boot 

{old navy}

my most worn boots; they go with almost every outfit and i get tons of compliments on them.  and they're under 40 bucks!

flannel plaid shirt in navy tartan 

{old  navy}

another item i know was purchased from my christmas list; we maine-ahs love our flannel shirts.

christmas cloche 

{target}

saw this pretty little cloche at target recently and it just made me happy.  it's like my love bottles and christmas villages all rolled into one.

reusable snack bags in blue vines 

{planet wise}

one of my favorite things for me and for the girls!  these handy little resuable sandwich and snack bags from planet wise.  eco friendly and super cute!

vera bradley sittin-in-a-tree weekender bag 

{ebay}

my overnight bag and i love it.  the print is so pretty and the bag is a perfect size!  love me some vera.

tea & crumpets apron 

{anthropologie}

love, love, love this stylish apron.  it was a christmas gift from nick last year... he took the hint (or the obvious telling him that was what i really wanted).

 rhinestone stud earrings 

{forever 21}

quickly becoming my most favorite piece of jewlry, these stud earrings are so pretty and super vintage looking; reminiscent of costume jewelry from days of yore.

and there you have it.  my list of favorite things.

happy gift giving!

family photo wall.

yesterday i completed a project i've been working on for a while. this summer i started collecting white photo frames while on a trip to ikea with my girlfriends. i got a good start on my little collection, but unfortunately our closest ikea is outside of boston, which is about a three and a half hour car trip for us. which also means we don't get to go there often.

ok, really ever.

so i finished my collection of frames off with a few i found at the christmas tree shoppe. ever heard of it? this was a new discovery for me when we moved to new england this summer. i'd never been to one before. wow, was i missing out. this is seriously one of my new favorite stores. inexpensive? cute stuff? great finds? yes, yes, yes. i *love* it.

i ordered prints of some of my favorite pictures of us... some of just nick&i, some of bella, a few of the three of us, pictures with my side of the family, pictures with nick's side, and some cute shots of the cousins before new ones will need to be added as our family is expanding like crazy over the next few months! exciting.

to hang them, i used the newspaper trick i did with the photo collage above our couch (except this time i used leftover christmas wrapping paper). time consuming, but better than having to re-hang all the pictures and filling our wall with nail holes!

i love the white frames against the light grey paint color of our hallway walls (in case you're curious, the shade is glidden's smooth stone. it's the color of our foyer, the hallways and our bedroom/bathroom!)

as i said, some of my favorite family photos are on this wall. one of my favorite pictures from our wedding was this one: nick&i requested our fathers to come pray over us while a worship song was played during the ceremony. i love the sentiment this photo holds--for so many reasons.

and this is one of my favorite shots of bella; she was about ten months in this photo taken last spring in texas in her easter dress. the classic i-have-a-child-and-live-in-texas shot in the bluebonnets that bloom each year. and this frame is my fav on the whole wall; it's actually plastic... shhhhh! it was only 4.99 and i love how elegant and pretty it is! can't wait for another trip to ikea so i can pick up a few more.

my favorite thing to use to decorate our home are pictures of our family. i have them everywhere. above our couch, above nick&i's bed, in our hallway, our bathroom, and have plans for little photo walls for all of our bedrooms. it may be overkill to some, but to me, it's sentimental and precious. i love it. this project in particular was healing for me, as i incorporated a couple of my favorite photos of my dad. i have a few more i want to add, as well as some shots of he and bella in her new room, but i love that i have those special moments captured forever.

white picture frames= $40-45
prints= $20-25
wall full of memories= priceless.

ten things {my favorite stores}.

so. this is pretty much a meaningless post, just for fun. i love to shop. love it. for myself, for nick, for bella, for our pantry/fridge, for our home. i also love trying to stay within a budget because it's a challenge for me, and i appreciate the things i find so much more!

this "ten things" post is all about my ten fav places to shop. my favorite things at stores, items i've found and love and a few tips along the way ;)

1. target.

i've said it a hundred times but i will say it again: i heart target. cool home decor, stylish clothes, oh-so-cute baby clothing and practical everyday needs like clorox wipes and make up. what's not to love? and i am a huuuuge fan of the dwell studio for target line. our bedding (seen here) is dwell studio and i love it so much. if i was told i could only shop at one store for the rest of my life, it would be target. hands down. *registering for your wedding or upcoming baby? target is wonderful. just make sure to keep all/any receipts because returns can be a hassle, but i never had any difficulty and registered at target for both.

2. joann's.

i could walk up and down the aisles of joann's a hundred times (if i have enough crackers on hand to keep bella occupied). and i never have to buy anything without using a 40% off coupon because they always have them. always. so that makes it even more awesome. *hey all you crafters: make sure to sign up in the store or online to get your coupons!!

3. trader joe's.

like whole foods but not the prices? then go to trader joes. uh-mazing. i'm obsessed. try the homemade pizza dough for 99 cents or the various kinds of ravioli for under $5 bucks. so far we've tried carbonara ravioli, arugula&parmesan and have a package of lobster ravioli just waiting for us in the freezer. all delish. the cheese selection is extensive and inexpensive... as is just about everything else. oh--and the multigrain baking mix? yum. *don't live near a trader joes, but can drive to one? we're in the same boat. you can buy a freezer-bag from trader joes and stock it with your favs for the car trip home until the next time you're in town.

4. forever 21.

a must-go-place-for-any-girl. and you don't even have to be twenty one to shop there. how do i know? because i'm thirty. and i still love it. comfy maxi dresses for under $25 bucks, sweaters and tops for around $10 and accessories... accessories as far as the eye can see. *hey christmas/birthday/bridal party-present-shoppers: this is a great place to find fun gifts for any girl friend... i've gotten many a christmas/birthday present here, and also bought all my bridesmaids bangle bracelets and pashminas as gifts for being my girls :)

5. anthropologie.

i don't live near one anymore (tear). but i can still browse online and get inspiration for my wardrobe and my home (even better when i find things i can try to make myself!). one of my favorite wedding shower gifts were "n" and "m" initial mugs from anthro. we drink our weekend coffee out of them often. another one of my fav anthro finds is the initial stand i bought when nick&i got engaged (see here in another "ten things" post). i also love finding their super-cute aprons when they are on sale, and don't even get me started on their sundresses. sigh*

6. j crew.

ohhhh how i love j crew. i was spoiled in my early twenties when my roommate worked there and was told she could give a healthy discount on items purchased for someone she lived with. i went to town purchasing things for myself until we realized the actual clause said "same sex domestic partner." ooops. needless to say, i got a little spoiled getting things at such a discount. shopping at j crew just isn't the same when you have to pay full price. but i still love wandering through a store every.chance.i.get. *hey future brides, check out j crew's bridal line! i purchased my bridesmaid dresses from there, and the customer service was awesome. which made me even more of a j crew fan :)

7. ikea.

oh.my.goodness i love this place. and we now (sadly) live a good 3+ hours from one. but me and some of my girlfriends are making a trip next month, and you better believe i am making a list of all the things i need to purchase! our bedroom set came from ikea, tv stand, shelves, lighting pendants... the list goes on and on. shopping in a store that feels like a really fun museum and smells like warm cinnamon rolls? ummm yes, please.

8. old navy.

hands down one of my go-to-places to buy clothes. for me, nick and bella. my closet is full of boots, shoes, scarves, cardigans, dresses and tops courtesy of o.n. and the prices? even better. i love that the look of the clothing is similar to gap and banana (republic, that is... did you know they were all the same company?) but much more affordable. and i've experienced amazing customer service when i've shopped online. even better. *hey pregnant mamas; this was my go-to-place for maternity clothes, too!

9. gap.

what can i say? the gap and i have had a love affair for as long as i can remember. yes, it's true. i have the clearance sale prices down to a science... if something is 29.99, it's only a matter of days before it is reduced to 24.99 and then to 18.99... and eventually 14.99. yes, i know, it's a bit ridiculous but i can't help it. i've been a gap girl since the 9th grade. their curvy jeans that come in longs, and the high-waisted skinnies (especially for mamas) are like denim miracles sent from heaven. thank you, gap. *do you love the gap, too? sign up to get a gap card. i never use mine; we try not to use credit cards, but they send special sales/promotions to gap card holders.

10. tj maxx/homegoods.

our tj's here where we live now is waaaaaay better than the one down the street from our apartment in dallas. way better. and i am becoming a maxx-anista (don't you love those commercials?) i find the cutest little baby clothes for bel that are very inexpensive, work/dress clothes for nick, and i could go on and on and on about homegoods... the best to find accent pieces to decorate your home... i recently bought a birdcage for $6 and a beautiful white porcelain vase for $5 (don't tell target, but i like homegoods even better for home decor... and that's saying a whole lot!)

what are you favorite places to shop?

ten things {around the house}.

so i'm doing a new blog-thing called "ten things". it will be random posts of exactly what it sounds like... ten things. this week is ten things around the house: ten of my favorite things in our home. some of them i just think are pretty. some of them are helpful. some of them i couldn't live without. well, maybe... but they make my life a whole lot easier.

1. chandelier table lamp (target).

i've had this lamp for seven years... i purchased it for my room when i first moved to dallas (awww). now it is the perfect addition to bella's nursery. i love this character piece and it adds so much elegance to a room for under thirty bucks. love it.

2. letter stand (anthropologie).

i bought the "c" version of this home accessory when nick and i first got engaged. it was our first decoration that we had in our first apartment and looked great on our mantle. i love, love, love anthropolgie and these vintage little stands are $28. which meant i could actually afford it. i love this as a wedding gift idea!

3. toaster oven (ge).

this, in my opinion, is one of life's greatest inventions. not only can you use it to toast your bagels or bread in the morning, but you can make pizzas on english muffins or tortillas, heat up pastries or items that would dry out in the microwave or take too long in the oven, or cook frozen items. such a time saver. makes my life so. much. easier.

4. parker bowls (crate&barrel).

hands down my most-used wedding gift (besides my dishes). i l-o-v-e these bowls. one of them are always in my dishwasher. perfect everyday use gift for someone else, or for yourself. cute enough to use as serving dishes too for a fun, casual dinner.

5. neti pot (neil med).

my savior. i get terrible allergy headaches and i discovered this goody when i was pregnant and couldn't take any medicine. it quickly became my best friend. it's pretty disgusting, i'm not gonna lie but if you have allergies--and especially if you're pregnant or limited in what you can take for meds--buy one NOW!

6. media baskets (target).

stocked up on these babies when i was doing bella's nursery. perfect for stocking diapers, toys, hair accessories, and i have one on her changing table to hold wipes, lotion, medicine and other items. perfect for storage for grown up items, too. we have one on our tv stand to store cords, our flip cam and camera for quick accessibility. a mama- must-have.

7. hair straightener (chi).

an investment, but *well* worth it. priced at $99.99 at target.com, its is definitely the most expensive item on this list, but i couldn't live without it. with my thick, kind-of- curly hair this is the best thing i've found to help smooth and straigten. and you can also use it to add wave or curl to your hair as well. love. the. chi.

8. mug collection (starbucks).

my name is megan and i'm a starbucks mug addict. i have a thing with mugs... i can't stand puny ones. i love the big, oversized ones and it doesn't hurt if they're really cute. nick has banned me from buying any more since we have no room in the mug section of our cupboards, but i *love* them. buying them puts a smile on my face.

9. lamp pendant (ikea).

this lovely lil lamp hangs in the corner of nick&i's bedroom. i just think it's really fun and cute. for some reason i also see these lamps hanging in frozen yogurt places. strange, i know. but it's only 34.99 at your nearest ikea. have i mentioned i get the warm fuzzies just walking around that place? i mean, everything is so cheap and the whole store smells like fresh cinnamon rolls. it's like disney world to me. almost.

10. garlic press (pampered chef).

my mom got my sister and i these for christmas and it was one of my favorite gifts this year. not even joking. i realize this probably makes me sound like a huge nerd, but i really don't care. if you get one, then you will understand. i looove using fresh garlic in my cooking but i abhor dealing with it. whacking it, peeling it, chopping it and trying to get the smell off my hands... this lil beauty minces garlic--peel and all. it has changed my life.