Carrie Underwood's Country Cabin

You may have missed the sit-down interview Oprah did with Carrie Underwood that aired Sunday night.

Oprah didn't ask many fresh questions, so Carrie didn't reveal much about herself that we don't already know. She doesn't eat meat. She is shy. She loves dogs. What she did allow, for the first time ever, is a sneak peak at the weekend cabin outside Nashville where she goes to escape all the curious fans in her world....like, uh, me. In the video above, you can take a little tour. I, for one, am obsessed with the cabin, the grounds, the decor and would be fine living there maybe even Monday - Friday. 


When I win American Idol, I am going to replicate this rustic little charmer out in Virginia wine country. Oh, and Oprah...I like oranges, too. 

Pillow Fight!!

Every reader of home decor books and magazines knows that the easiest way to spruce up a room is to change out pillows. In my Q1 put-lipstick-on-a-pig efforts to make our house more of a home, getting new sofa pillows has been budgeted for February.  In addition to the main pillows, for the smaller sofa that we call Chloe's Couch (because it's her favorite place to rest) I want one basset hound pillow.

photo credit - Etsy

Chloe needs one.

photo credit - Pottery Barn

Someone thinks such a decorative touch is...non-essential.

photo credit: Overstock. com

Someone will likely lose this pillow fight.

14 Carrots

 Is this not the CUTEST Easter centerpiece you've ever seen???

I found it on Hostess with the Mostest, one of my favorite entertaining blogs, in an egg-cellent {couldn't help self!} feature on Easter party decor. So clever, so afforadable!!!  Makes me want to host an Easter party or a bunny-themed baby shower!

Dear Santa, I'm trying...

Dear Santa, 


I'm trying to get all of my Christmas cards in the mail...

You know it's harder for me because I don't keep an updated address list of the people I know and love. Yes, I know I am a newlywed and should have handy the invite list from my wedding, easily covering my card list. Wouldn't you know, the computer on which I had the list saved bit the dust, and I don't have an updated copy. Oh, and don't forget all my friends who have moved!! If you need their new addresses, I have them. I think.


I'm trying to finish up my shopping. I don't have elves like you, but I do have this.....

I'm trying to snap photos of my decked halls + walls, but it's hard to stage pictures when most of the time my floors are littered with wrapping paper and gift bags. Here's a little peak....

Oh, and maybe if you replace the camera I lost with a new one, I won't have to use my phone to photograph my tree...

California Casual

This weekend I (finally!) saw the movie It's Complicated.  As always, Meryl Streep is fantastic. To me, howevs, the real star is the movie's set. It's Complicated is full of scenes from the most simple, livable, beautiful rooms!!!

I love the lone orange chair mixed in with all the slipcovered neutrals, and adore the giant coffee table

In the movie, this kitchen is getting a remodel....but why???  Please make a sequal to It's Complicated just so we can all see how the upgrade looks!

Cozy!!!  Wouldn't you want to host Girls' Night around this distressed farm table? I do!

Watching the story of this movie play out with the backdrop of  a spacious kitchen, comfy chairs, giant coffee tables and (my biggest downfall) spectacular neutral textiles,

I left with the biggest case of home envy since spending time in the Banks' house watching  Father of the Bride!

Arched doorways? Yes, please!!!

As everyone's surely does over time, my home's style keeps evolving. I wanted my first apartment to look straight out of Pottery Barn. Then, when I started combing antique stores I realized there are ecclectic and unique furniture and furnishings to be found (Pottery Barn Burners, I know call such finds!) and turned into more of a shabby chic-er! Now I have merged my hodgepodge of home goods with a boy's. I hate to admit it, but our house is really all over the place, totally undefined by any style other than mis-matched (and not in a good, non-matchy-matchy sense of decorating). I sort of hate it, but know it will eventually come together...if not in this house, then in our next, "forever" home. Until, I find solace in convincing myself that if I squint very, VERY, VERY hard (and overlook the blond furniture Mr W picked out well before me (sorry, Honey!) as well as the non-custom curtains that aren't long enough to be hung from ceiling to floor, my room...

is kind-of, sort of, just a little in line with the one from It's Complicated? Like a distant, distant cousin (twice removed) maybe?

Lie, lie, lie and tell me that you see it, too?

Despite an East coast zip code, I really do want to live California Casual!!!

**CONTEST ALERT:  Short Southern Mamma is giving away some wall decor that would perfectly flank the wall space on each side of my bed....But since all's fair in love and blogging, you should enter to win, too!

Show Us Your Life: Favorite Places To Shop

Show Us Your Life is a weekly blog event hosted each Friday by Kelly's Korner where bloggers induldge readers with fun facts about their worlds.

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I have plenty of vices. Shopping has never been one of them (Mr. W is laughing in disagreement as he reads this, I know - but I'm not lying). I certainly love buying new things for the house, for myself, for others...but I tend to shop only when there is a need - a party, a wedding, a big day at work that needs a special outfit. Likewise, if I am hosting a dinner or a party I'll go in search of new dishes or a tablecloth. I do tend to get in my head a look I want to execute, either for myself or my house and the first place I usually go to tickle my fancy is...don't laugh....ROSS.

Not all ROSSes are created equal, I know, but the nearest to me is pretty fabulous. And when I say "near", I mean if where I live was broken into city blocks, I could walk - proximity lends to my ROSS Love, as well!

It goes without saying that one cannot love ROSS without also loving his cousins, TJ Maxx and Marshalls. I've bought countless name-brand dresses at those stores, like this Theory one I wore for engagement pictures....

or this orange number that I wore ALL summer long...

I buy nearly all of Mr Dub's button-downs there, with labels like Vineyard Vines and Ralph Lauren...and with price tags half (sometimes even less) than what hang on shirts in department stores. The TJ-MarshROSS trifecta is always a reliable - and affordable - resource for pillows, linens, rugs and fun kitchen happies!


Yes, it's hit-or-miss...and some people hate having to scavenge, but for the deals I find at these stores, it's all worth it to me!

I also have a mega retail crush on The Old Luckett's Store.  I love it so much it garnered a mention in a toast at my wedding! I have blogged about it time and again. Luckett's - which is actually three stores and a flea market-like parking lot all on one property - houses antiques, furniture, rugs and a ton of other really unique decor for home and garden...

.....even vintage clothes and hats!

Plus...in its Design House, apps and drinks (read: wine and Cosmos!) are always served to shoppers. Even if you're not in the market to buy, going there, out in the middle of beautiful Virginia makes for a really fun Girls' Day!

Next week's Show Us Your Life topic: Fashion Tips 

It's A Sign {A Contest}

The Nesting Place, a very sassy design blog, is hosting a contest. I love blog contests!!! Most bloggers just challenge readers to leave a comment in an effort to capture a fun give-away. Some even let a random generator choose the winner. The Nester makes her flock earn the prize. I respect that.

The challenge: post about these cutesy signs from Danielson Designs Studio.

For several years now, I've been an antiquer. One of the things I especially love to discover is an old, clever sign. 

I always look for something that showcases a name, word, place or phrase symbolic to my life or family.  I think abstract is always best, for example, a weathered, beat up grocery store sign from a store named Mr. Dubs' Grocery. Why, I'd buy that in an instant!

I love old signs.

Or, signs that just look old....

Replace "Santa Catalina Island" with the name of your beach town!

You can search the world over and never find a sign that speaks to you. The good news is, thanks to Danielson Designs - by way of The Nesting Place - you can create your very own!

While there are tons of whimsical, spiritual signs from which to choose....

it is especially fun to create a sign that is custom to your life and home. You can do it (as I have done to nearly all the signs shown here) on the company's website and see exactly what it will like before you committ to buy.

In the dream I dream where The Nester chooses me as the winner, I pick a very rustic looking sign, and have the phrase "Real Sweet Life"  printed on it (it's something Mr. W and I say alot when A/we're relaxed and grateful....usually propped up on a beach somewhere or B/we're watching Chloe roll around the floor demanding a belly rub...as in, She lives a real sweet life).

So, pick me, Nester!

Pick me!

Twas the Night Before Christmas...

IF and WHEN {ideas shoplifted from lucketts}

IF I could paint and use stencils, I'd make this to hang in my dining nook...

IF I could sew, I'd make these curtains for the nursery I don't even yet need...

Look closer...the bottom ruffles are made from different colors of my beloved burlap...accented with tulle.

How whimtastical is that????

IF I host a holiday party I will resist my natural urge to go gold, and use shiny silver instead...

WHEN it is time to haul out the holly, I shall do this to all my windows

WHEN my friend Anne decorates her home for Christmas, she will be putting this on her mantle...

Decked Halls, Decked Walls - Lucketts Holiday Open House

fa-la-la-la-la-OOH-LA-LA!

I just had to fan myself from the overwhelming giddiness that erupted from my heart at the sight of these pictures from Lucketts Design House.  Like Dolly Parton, LDH is solid proof that good things come from tiny, Southern towns.

Lucketts is my most favorite place in all the land.  Through three different old, ecclectic, beautifully decorated homes and a flea-market style parking lot, you can surround yourself with, among other things, antiques, vintage clothes, carpets that are frilly, soft and wild, housewares beyond your imagination, candy and a hot dog stand that has hot chocolate. If you know where to look, sometimes there is even wine. Yes, to sip while you shop!

For the mega-fans like me who stalk the place, we're baited with sneak peaks at new merchandise. Try to contain yourself as you see what's being showcased....

If Santa and Mrs. Claus had a daughter, this is what her room would look like

Even if I leave Lucketts empty handed, I always shoplift the most clever ideas for home decor or tablescaping. If I steal any this weekend, I'll be certain to share with you!