Happy Friday, friends and welcome to round #2 of Favorite Bloggers Friday! I am SO excited to introduce to you more of some of my favorite bloggers out there in blogland and give you a head's up on a giveaway for next week that you DO NOT want to miss!

First, some of my favorite bloggers...

 

 

 

 

SHAUNNA | Perfectly Imperfect

 

First up is Shaunna from Perfectly Imperfect! Let me just begin by saying that you just may see a little bit of a trend here this week...most if not all of the bloggers featured this week are SOUTHERN. I just MAY be a little biased but I invite you to check out each of their blogs and judge for yourselves.

 

Back to Shaunna. She is amazing. Not only does she author an amazing blog but she also owns a shop in Alabama that is just perfection! If you are in the state you should definitely take time to stop by to say hello to her and purchase something amazing from her brick and mortar!

I seriously admire this lady! Beautiful inside and out!

 

 

 

 CHRISTI | Burlap and Basil

 

I've followed Christi for a while and was so thrilled when I found her on Instagram. She cooks up one of a kind recipes and meals that just about anyone could duplicate at home and even features recipes for those with special diet needs like gluten free and dairy free! So good! Hop on over and check her out and be sure to follow along with her on her foodie journey!

 

 

 

 

 

SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY | Rhoda

 

Next is Rhoda from Southern Hospitality! I have literally followed Rhoda since the beginning and it has been such a blessing to watch her grow, enrich and inspire the lives of SO many bloggers! She is truly amazingly talented, generous, creative...the list goes on and on.

Head on over to her place to meet her and see more of what she offers!

 

 

 

 

 

 

DON'T DISTURB THIS GROOVE | Brandi

 

Last but not least, Brandi from Don't Disturb this Groove. I can't help but think of the late 80's tune each and every time I visit her  blog! OMG, thanks Brandi! As a matter of fact, if I am honest...as I was typing this I had to Google the song just so I could hear it. You know, for old time's sake!  I am really just getting to know her but love all that I see from her and enjoy our brief online convos. Looking forward to meeting and getting to know her better!  

 

 

I hope you'll visit these ladies and join them on their adventures! You will not regret it!

 

And what else was I going to talk to you about??? Oh yeah...that's right...the GIVEAWAY!!

 

 

SO...are you following me on Instagram?

If not, you missed this...

 

 

I posted this pic a couple of days back. My new friend Jennifer from Décor Createur makes these lovely signs and so much more and has offered to give a set away to one lucky follower. You'll want to follow RHI on Instagram if you don't already. More details about this giveaway on Monday so come on back!

 

 

And here's a little tune to jumpstart your weekend...I just couldn't help myself!

 

 

 

 

 

Get your groove on,

Right now, everything around our home is a project.

 

For the past few months I have been playing virtual musical chairs and well, kinda literal musical chairs, around the house.

 

My hubby, well...let's just say he still doesn't get it.

 

Since everything is still a bit hodge podge and not ready for the cover of House Beautiful, Country Living, Better Homes and Gardens or the like, I thought I'd show you a few things around the house that I just love.

 

Being in a rental is not exactly easy when it comes to decorating. Luckily we have some awesome landlords who allow me to experiment from time to time. Since they are okay with us hanging things on the walls and making small holes {which I am VERY thankful for} I am putting up gallery walls all over the place. This typography art is the beginning of the study area in our living space.

 

The style of the house is a 1950's ranch. The layout isn't the the best and the entry, living and dining are practically one small space combined. Once all of the restyling and moving around and purchasing of furniture is complete, I will have to show you around.

 

Here's another fave. Vintage books and a brass magnifying glass.

I purchased the books from Melaine over at My Sweet Savannah for only $7. Thought they would be great for layering and adding height. They were!

Aaaaah, the infamous antlers. You can read more about these here. I think I am going to move these from our dining area to the frame wall below and perhaps add a few different types of antlers all around the frames to add a touch of classic whimsy to that wall.

 

They just may be my favorite of all and I love how the gold contrasts with the Iron Ore from Sherwin Williams.

 

 

If you follow me on Instagram, then you saw that yesterday I got a little "Homegoods Happy" with the next two purchases. I bought this Aztec style stool for $20 and actually thought it was a deep gray. Got home and realized it was a dark navy. Darn.

Oh well! Still love it and I know I can work it in.

 

As a pillow, perhaps? Ha! Now, I to find out where I can find THIS SAME EXACT pillow...and two of them.

 

This is our new baby. I say that since our kids are in love with it, especially our youngest, Grayson. Honestly, it's one of the softest things I have ever felt aside from a real rabbit. Pretty amazing.

 

It's faux fur, of course. But if looks and feels SO real.

 

 And last but not least, these frames above our sofa. I purchased these from Target. They are from the Threshold line and I love the natural wood. This is where I mentioned placed antlers. Two on top or one beside each photo, what do you think?

 

So those are a few things I am loving around our place.

 

If you've followed for a while, you can see that my style is changing just a bit. A little less farmhouse and a little more modern eclectic. I like to call it Rustic Chic. Or, maybe "Country Glam". What do you think? What are some of your favorites in your house? I'd love to hear!

Are you following me on Facebook, Instagram? Let's talk about it there, shall we?

Hope you all have had an amazing week!

Be sure and hop back over tomorrow for our 1,000 IG follower giveaway with The Charming Farmer!

 

 

 

 You don't want to miss it!

Well, at least one of them...

If you've followed along for a while you'll remember this post I did a long time ago. As a matter of fact it was years ago. I have dreamt of owning a dress form. My dream has finally come true. 

Since that orginal post in 2009, my heart has literally gone pitter patter each and every time I see these wonderful works of art. 

While surfing around on Craigslist, looking for nothing in particular as I normally do, I stumbled upon an ad that changed my life. Okay, so that may be a little bit of a stretch but it absolutely got my heart pumping as I emailed the seller to find out if either of these lovelies (she had two) were still available. 

When I awakened the next morning there was a reply from the seller waiting paitiently for me on my phone. My hands literally trembled as I opened the message. Wait for it...it was AVAILABLE!!! Both of them! Oh, be still my heart.

I attempted to keep calm so as to not give away how excited I was about coming so close to owning something that I've coveted for so long. The seller and I agreed to meet in the parking lot where she worked. I was so beside myself. Literally. I felt like I had jumped outside my body and back in a few times before meeting with her. 

Before I drove out, I made sure that she was willing to wiggle on the price. She was more than willing. I normally always ask for pieces that I am serious about buying and that I am going to be meeting someone to take a look at. This  time was no different. As bad as I wanted one of these, the price STILL had to be right. 

I pulled into the parking lot and found the vehicle that she described and...waited. It felt like hours. Finally I saw her walking down through my rear view mirror and thought to myself, "Let the games begin."

She opened the trunk of her car and I swear smoke came out and angels sang. There she sat, waiting for me...her new owner. I had to have it and the seller HAD to give it to me for the price that I wanted it for. She had to. 

Before meeting her I had literally prayed, "Lord, You know I've wanted one of these things forever and while I know it's not a necessity, I know that You care about the little things so I am asking that you soften her heart and that she is willing to let this dress form go for a steal. Amen." 

She began explaining to me how she acquired the forms and that she wasn't really attached to them at all. In my head: "Thank you, Lord". Finally, it was my turn. I began to explain to her how I've wanted one of these since I was five years old and how much I would love to have it given the condition. I then proceeded to ask her{for all you Dave Ramsey fans out there} what would be the best price she could give me on it. My heart raced. Are you ready? $30 bucks,folks. I paid $30 bucks for this lovely lady. Even more crazy is that she went down from her asking price of $100 without a word from me. Now, I can tell you that because I will never sell it. I may even request to be buried with it. Yes, I am seriously considering it.

You see, I knew at that moment that God loved me the most that day. I just couldn't believe it. It was the precise number I had in my head and on my heart as I prayed prior to meeting her. 

She'd already collapsed it so I just needed to transfer it from her cat to mine. You would've thought that I stole something as I screeched out of the parking lot. I figured I had better get outta there fast before she figured out what she'd done. 

This is "Lovely" stuffed into the passenger seat of my truck. I couldn't wait to get her home. 

I couldn't wait to get some free time after the kids were down to set her up and tomorrow I get to use her at a public event where my work will be featured. More on that later! 

via RHI Instagram

I don't have a lot of vintage jewelry and I knew that would look absolutely amazing on her. I used what I had and went for some of my antique bronze jewelry since it has a vintage look. 

So, what's on your wish list? What are you dreaming of lately? 

Thankful for answered prayer,