front door freshen up

Front doors are one of my favorite things and also one of my biggest pet peeves. Historic wooden doors with heavy door knockers make me weak in the knees but those front doors with etched oval glass... ick! And color? Ooooh color! I love to see a home with a rich and unique front door color - think terra cotta, teal, or pink! Painting your front door is one of the easiest updates you can do to your home and is also one of the most effective. Changing your front door color can give a whole new look. 

The front door says so much about the home, the homeowner, and the neighborhood. In most cases, it the front door is the focal point of the elevation and it definitely leaves a first impression with your guests. 

The color palettes below are a great examples of how you can use an adventurous color while keeping it balanced with the rest of your home. These colors are so rich and vibrant, but even if you prefer a less bold color or tone these tips are helpful for anyone looking to freshen up their front door. 

source: Houzz

Read more

three lovely things

1 //  I am finally the proud owner of my very own Macbook! After pinching my pennies for as long as I can remember I finally made the commitment. Let the blogging in bed begin!!

2 //  These bright and playful outdoor fabrics from Forsyth Fabrics were the perfect inspiration for my mom's porch re-decorating project. Green is her thing!

3 // Easy. Mini. Cheesecake. Bites. Need I say more? These little devils are homemade, took less than 1 hour, and made me "girlfriend of the year" when Max got home from a 14 hour shift to discover them lovingly prepared and arranged in his refrigerator. Find the recipe here.  Word to the wise - crush the Nilla wafers for the crust, add sour cream, and use less sugar. I topped mine with crumbled Heath bar instead of cherry pie filling.

Happy Monday Tuesday - may your week be filled with lots of lovely things.

Read more

It's finally F R I D A Y !!

Tomorrow will be a good day. Why you ask? Well besides the fact that it's Friday (and who doesn't love Friday) tomorrow is also the day that I get to see this handsome fella ----->

My boyfriend Max and I haven't seen each other in 3 weeks which feels like a lifetime. I am so excited for the two of us to have a weekend together in Birmingham, which brings me to the other exciting thing about this weekend...

It's Birmingham Restaurant week!

Well it was Birmingham restaurant week and we have until Sunday to enjoy it together. Max and I are total foodies, we like to consider it our hobby. Some people enjoy hiking, scrapbooking, or cycling. As for Max and I we enjoy food - eating it, cooking it, and shopping for it. It's our thing! So a full 10 days of awesome restaurants offering speciality menus and speciality prices - now were talking!

Birmingham's restaurant scene has such personality and charm and BRW is the perfect time to try some new places. 36 restaurants around the Birmingham area are teaming up to offer fixed-price lunch deals for $5, $10,  & $15, and dinner specials for $10, $20, and $30. With local favorites like Rojo and Maki Fresh, and impressive names in fine dining like Hot and Hot Fish Club and Bottega there's certainly something for everyone.

Below is a list of the participating restaurants in this years Birmingham Restaurant Week.

To find out more visit www.bhamrestaurant-week.com.

$5 lunch: Cosmo’s Pizza. JoJo’s Diner on Broadway. Maki Fresh. Rusty’s Bar-B-Q. Ted’s Restaurant

$10 lunch: Billy’s Bar and Grill. Bottega Cafe. Creekside Tavern. Dreamland Bar-B-Que. Fish Market. Fuego Cantina. Jim ’N Nick’s Bar-B-Q. JoJo’s Diner on Broadway. Little Donkey. Maki Fresh. Nabeel’s Cafe & Market. Rogue Tavern. Rusty’s Bar-B-Q. Silvertron Cafe. Slice Pizza & Brew. Ted’s Restaurant. The Gardens Cafe

$15 lunch: Cafe de Paris. Chez Fonfon. Maki Fresh. Nabeel’s Cafe & Market

$10 dinner: Irondale Cafe. Maki Fresh. Rags’ Italian Bistro

$20 dinner: 26. Billy’s Bar and Grill. Bottega Cafe. Cafe de Paris. Cosmo’s Pizza. Creekside Tavern. Dreamland Bar-B-Que. Fuego Cantina. Jim ’N Nick’s Bar-B-Q. La Paz. Little Donkey. Maki Fresh. Nabeel’s Cafe & Market. Rogue Tavern. Rusty’s Bar-B-Q. Silvertron Cafe. The Wine Loft

$30 dinner: Bottega. Cosmo’s Pizza. Dreamland Bar-B-Que. Fish Market. Highlands Bar and Grill. Hot and Hot Fish Club. Little Savannah Restaurant and Bar. Maki Fresh. MetroPrime Steakhouse. Michael’s Restaurant. Ocean. Ore Drink & Dine. Slice Pizza & Brew. Veranda on Highland. Vino

Brunch (prices vary): Billy’s Bar and Grill. Cosmo’s Pizza. MetroPrime Steakhouse. Ore Drink & Dine. Silvertron Cafe

(Source: Al.com, Birmingham Restaurant Week)

Read more