Top Blogger Project and Master Bedroom

We’re only into the second month of 2011 and already, so much fabulousness is happening all over blogland!  I am head-over-heels for two projects I spotted recently- a cabinet makeover and a master bedroom reveal.

First up, my friend Emily of Name 5 Things took her uninspired Ikea cabinet and turned it into a sleek and stylish masterpiece!  All it took was some paint and a some graph paper to draw the Greek key design (with the help of her hubby)! 

BEFORE

Visit her BLOG to see how she did it- she included a very detailed tutorial that I’m sure you’ll appreciate. 

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And Casa Greer with the help of 6th Street Design School completed this super hip and gorgeous master bedroom.  I love the bold charcoal grey wall color and the fresh pops of yellow and white.

Here is the design board Kirsten created.

And here is the finished result after many DIY projects completed by Elsa!

Before

AFTER

If you haven’t met Elsa yet, head on over to

and to see more of Kirsten’s work, go to

Humor

Proof that art can be fun...Room by Trip Haenisch in Lonny, Art Ben Murphy

Living Room Drapes

Ah, I’m so happy to have FINALLY decided on fabric for my living room/breakfast room drapes!  It’s only been about three months that I’ve been eyeing my naked windows with contempt.  And unlike before, this time, I’m hiring a friend to sew them for me!  Here’s the sample fabric:

The drapes will go on the far ends of the living room windows too.  It will be so nice to have the added visual interest and something to draw the eye up (still need to raise the mirrors!) p.s. I can’t believe I got a shot out the window without just a bunch of glare- I played around with the manual settings on my camera but have no idea how I stumbled into the settings.  Centsational Girl recently did an awesome tutorial.

I was even able to get a shot of the view from inside our doors.

Okay, I digress, but back to the fabric- look at all these little free samples I collected at High Fashion Home. 

I can’t wait to show y’all the finished result!

What Fairy Tales Are Made Of...

I had seen snippets of BHLDN, Anthropologie's new bridal line, but I had not had a chance to sit and look at it until last night...How happy does the picture above make you? Oh, and this one too...
So onto the gowns, I do love them. I think they captured the Anthropologie feel, playful but not cutesy, and just a little bit quirky.
If I had a place to wear this (and a few Gs to drop on a dress) this would be mine pronto.
Maybe my favorite for a bride...
Such sweet eyelet, how perfect for a backyard or beach wedding?
They also have accessories, hair pieces and of course shoes!
I have said before that if I could go back and change something I would wear blue shoes to my wedding, but these would be a close second...
Don't miss the bridesmaid dresses...
Have you had a chance to check BHLDN out? What do you think?

Weekend

Hi friends!!  I missed you yesterday!  We just returned from a whirlwind weekend in Las Vegas where my best friend got married on Saturday and we celebrated my birthday on Sunday!  It was an intimate trip of just three couples and we had a great time.  I’m hoping we make a return trip this summer when the weather is warm and we can add some pool time to the agenda:)

We stayed at the gorgeous Venetian hotel- bride and groom’s choice- and I must say it was a good one!







Friday night we ate at Caneletto, overlooking the canal.  Our dinner reservation wasn’t until 9:00 p.m. (11:00 Houston time) but all that faux daylight makes you think it’s about 3:00.  It’s very hard to keep track of what time it is in Vegas.



I had quite possibly the best pizza ever, Pizza Cristina- a thin crust pizza with fresh mozzarella, prosciutto, shaved Grana Padano, mushrooms, baby arugula, and truffle oil.  It was out of this world.

 

image via

Saturday morning, Jimmy and I started the day at the Bellagio Cafe, a new tradition for us, since we had brunch there last time we were in town.  We each ordered a dish (eggs Benedict) and shared the brioche French toast.  Of course there was oj and coffee too.  Soooo yummy!

Then it was time for the girls to get ready at the Canyon Ranch salon.  I must say that my friend look gorgeous (so sorry I don’t have any pics to share right now), but her hair (loosely pulled to the side with dainty fresh white flowers intertwined) and makeup were just divine!  She was seriously stunning and wore this white BCBG halter dress.  Her sparkly earrings and bracelet completed the look perfectly!  Oh, how could I forget, she work hot pink heeled sandals too!



The ceremony took place Saturday afternoon at The Little Church of the West, a small wooden church near the airport.



Afterwards we celebrated with some drinks and appetizers at the bar of Todd English’s Olives in the Bellagio.  That seat on the far right looks like exactly where I was sitting- ha!





More pizza for me! (fig and olive this time). 

image via 

By the way, Jimmy said I was eating my way through Vegas and I think he was right.  I definitely ate more than I drank (some wine here and there) and definitely more than I gambled (not at all).  Ha!  Who goes to Vegas and doesn’t gamble?  Prior to this trip, I would have said Jimmy and me, but he was introduced to craps this time and got hooked (probably because he won $650!)

Saturday afternoon we all took a little siesta and relaxed before dinner.  Yes, at this time I popped into Haagen Dazs for some Carmel Cone ice cream! 



While cruising around the Venetian and Palazzo shops eating some ice cream, we stopped into my fave Michael Kors and my sweet hubby bought me a birthday present:)

Our last supper in Vegas was at Emril Lagasse’s Delmonico Steakhouse, but sadly, none of us cared for the Creole seasoning they use on their steak. 



We headed home to pick up James from the Grandparents’ house (where my brother and sis-n-law were also waiting with birthday cake and gifts- so sweet!) 

Although the trip was awesome, there’s no place like home!  Glad to be back in my own bed!

A little birdie let it be known that it was my birthday over the weekend, and I deeply thank you for all the birthday love!