Modern Housewarming Gift Ideas

I've been using Polyvore for a while to create the sets for my Tuesday fashion and style posts, but haven't really tried using it to explore home decorating ideas.  When I saw a contest featuring housewarming gifts, I couldn't resist.  Here are twelve perfect, affordable gifts for newlyweds moving into a new home, whether it be a cozy cottage or a modern loft.  Which of these pieces would you most like to receive?

View this board on Polyvore

1. A bottle of wine  2. Whimsical bookends (Jonathan Adler from Barnes and Noble)
3.  A cozy throw blanket (Pier1, $20)  4. Kitchen canisters (Target, up to $18)
5. Monogrammed mugs (Anthopologie, $8 each)
6.  A scented candle (Paddywax, $25)  7.  A serving tray (West Elm, $29 and up)
8. A colorful serving bowl ($35, Terrain)  9. A unique vase (Anthropologie, $28)
10. Cutting boards ($14 for two at World Market)
11. A monogrammed welcome mat (Pottery Barn, $59 and up)
12. A storage basket (Target, $31)

wedding inspiration: the most romantic ceremony backdrops

I just love rounding up great ceremony and portrait backdrops from creative weddings!  I've already shared my favorite quirky and whimsical backdrops; today, here are a few of the most beautiful and romantic backdrops from around the web.  All of them incorporate soft colors, a DIY spirit,

Disclaimer:  If you'd like to add any of these images to Pinterest, please click on the link underneath the photo and pin from the source so that the creators and owners get credit!  Please DO NOT pin from this post.

Lev Kuperman Photography via Grey Likes Wedding || Rachel May Photography via Southern Weddings

The origami arch on the left proves that any wedding location can become a showstopper- it's from a living room ceremony!  Isn't the arch on the right amazing - the simplest lines suggest classic Georgian architecture and the lush flower arch is the perfect compliment to the straight lines.

Alixann Loosle Photography via Magnolia Rouge

I love this vintage-inspired forest wedding background - such an approachable DIY with lace and simple white frames!  I think that sticking to a single color keeps the focus where it should be - on the couple, not on the backdrop.

Sunday Romance Photography via Ruffled

Beach wedding?  Amazing florals?  JOHNNY CASH LYRICS IN AMAZING TEAL CALLIGRAPHY?  Yes, yes, and yes please.  This backdrop from a Beau and Arrow Events wedding might be my favorite of them all.

Ariel Renae Photography via Cedarwood Weddings || Adrian Michael Photography via Magnolia Rouge

I think that a lot of brides still love a traditional floral arch as a ceremony backdrop, and I love that wedding planners, designers, and DIY brides themselves are finding so many ways to put a creative spin on this classic design elements - the ruffles inside the arch at the Cedarwood wedding on the left are feminine without being cheesy, and the rustic style and shape of the summer camp wedding arch on the right makes it unique and memorable.

Andrea Sophia Matarrese via Michelle Rigg Art, Illustration and Design

Michelle Rigg shared the amazing, larger-than-life flowers from her own wedding on her art blog.  She used them as altar decor, then as props in day-after photos!

Sea Studio by Style Me Pretty

One Love Photo via Ruffled

What have we learned today?  Maybe that I love lush florals, soft colors, and picture frames... oh wait.  We already knew all of that, didn't we?

Steeper or Cheaper: Emerald Peasant Tops

Old Navy embroidered jersey peasant top, $12.00
Ruche Psalm of Life embellished peasant blouse, $36.99

Which of these peasant tops is your favorite?

Peace out, Summer! Jewel Tones

Today I wanted to share another take on transitional summer-to-fall colors.  The jewel tones that are popular right now are amped-up versions of Pantone's Vivacious, Acai, and Emerald.  These colors are bright and cheerful enough for September, but their rich tones are a reminder that fall is on the way.  Wear them now, throw on a drapey cardigan or structured moto jacket when the weather gets cooler.

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1. Old Navy cross-front maxi dress  2. Mossimo embellished tank from Target 3. Old Navy belt
 4. Ruche peasant blouse  4. Vera Bradley tablet cover  5. Dorothy Perkins straight leg jeans
 6. Dior nail polish (from the "Samba" duo) at Macy's  7. Julep nail polish (similar colors)
8. Marais sandals from ShopBop 9. Aldo handbag in Cognac

clicks of note: what are you listening to?

get your week off to a colorful start...

LISTEN.

• Chris Stapleton has one of the most soulful voices I've heard in a long time - I hope that he finds a lot of success!  I head "What Are You Listening To?" on my favorite country station this weekend and fell in love instantly.  I'm linking up with Musical Mondays at My So-Called Chaos today.

SWOON.

Ashley Slate Photography via Wedding Chicks

• Wedding Chicks features the most gorgeous summer bouquets.
• Such a cute, bright engagement shoot from Dabble Me This.
• State flower cookies are the cutest favor idea (Once Wed).
• Style Me Pretty features a lovely San Francisco area wedding.

SMILE.

• Wood slabs for the tabletop - the perfect fall party touch (Apartment Therapy).
• After the party, use those wood slabs to make stamped art (Jones Design Company).
• Or make a rustic chalkboard (Lindsay Letters).
• I'd be happy all the time with a reclaimed wood whale on my mantel (Finding Home).

FLASHBACK.

• Last year I shared my end-of-summer Instagrams, orange and blue and apple orchard wedding inspiration, kelly green wardrobe ideas, and roundups of geometric home decor pieces and fashion accessories.  
• Two years ago, I broke down the cost of our DIY wedding flowers, showed off photos from our rehearsal, and shared my favorite peach pie recipe.

sunday simplicity: kindness and love

Juneberry Lane

That best portion of a good man’s life

His little, nameless, unremembered acts of kindness and of love.

- William Wordsworth, “Lines Written a Few Miles Above Tintern Abbey”

Kinfolk Magazine

style: A Southern Prep Game Day

If you've been hanging out here for a while you know I'm a proud graduate of the University of Virginia - for a poor girl from a small rural town, getting to attend one of the oldest and most respected colleges in the U.S. was a dream come true.  One of my favorite times of year on Grounds was always football season!  Even though I'm not a huge sports fan, I loved the atmosphere of school spirit and celebration.

It's been over a decade since UVa faced BYU and the Wahoos will be opening our season this year by hosting our non-conference opponents from the midwest.  The game day wardrobe motto when I started college was "guys in ties, girls in pearls," and UVa students were known for the game day "fashion show."  It was a little overwhelming at first for me - at my high school, the height of "preppy" fashion was Abercrombie + Fitch - I'd never even heard of Lily Pulitzer, J. Crew, or Vera Bradley, the brands I was quickly surrounded by and eventually swooning over in college.

Eventually I realized that having a certain brand on my clothes wasn't anywhere near as important as feeling good - and feeling like myself- in what I was wearing.  I decided not to worry about fitting in with the country club set and to just have fun.  Still, I love the way dressing up for football games is a way to embrace a Southern tradition and I think that the first game of the season is the perfect time for girls to break out their cutest sundresses and sandals.  I was inspired (by nostalgia for my undergrad days) to create two very traditional, preppy UVa game day outfits.

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Disclaimer:  ModCloth items contain affiliate links.

1. Scotch Naturals nail polish in "Flying Scotsman"  2. ModCloth orange swing earrings
3. Lily  Pulitzer Kennett dress  4. Vera Bradley pocket ID clutch  5. Jack Rogers sandals from FarFetch
6. BeBop juniors dress from Macy's 7. Fossil glass dot earrings
8. Pomander Place bracelet from Tuckernuck  9. Lalu Penny clutch from Pret a Beaute
10. Victoria's Secret sandals (similar from Sam Edelman)

What are your favorite Game Day traditions?

Steeper or Cheaper: Swiss Dot Chiffon Blouses

J. Crew Chiffon Dot Top (out of stock)

J. Crew Factory Dotted Keyhole Top in navy, Dublin green (shown) and ivory

Old Navy Swiss Dot Chiffon Top in wine, navy, white, coral, and lagoon (shown)

One of my favorite purchases so far this season has been a Swiss dot chiffon blouse.  It's a little bohemian, but still very ladylike, and super versatile.  I snagged mine at Old Navy, and felt very proud of myself when I saw a very similar shirt for a hundred dollars more on the J. Crew website.  The J. Crew blouse is now out of stock online but may still be available in stores; as far as I can tell what the J. Crew and J. Crew factory versions have going for them that the Old Navy version doesn't are a thicker fabric (ON's blouse is super sheer and must be worn with a cami) and nicer cuffs - the Old Navy ones are elastic; both J. Crew version feature a hemmed cuff and button.  Old Navy offers the style in a wider range of colors.  For a teacher's salary and wardrobe, the Old Navy version hits the spot!