letting the cat out of the bag

The last time we chatted I promised you some news so I might as well just blurt it out.

I'm opening up a shop here in St. Louis!

I have to tell you that it feels really weird to type that (and it will feel even weirder to hit publish) because this has been what we refer to in our house as a 'lock it up conversation' for well over a year - meaning no one outside the walls of our house was to know. But now that leases are FINALLY signed and construction is underway, slowly over the last few weeks I've started to tell others - clients, close friends, etc. - and no one has laughed at me yet so we are off to a good start.

This is a very long time coming and it has been even harder than I imagined. And my imagination can lean pretty doom and gloom so that should tell you something. Potential business partners that flake, potential landlords that don't return phone calls and an architectural review board that has had...challenging opinions have made this difficult to say the least. However, I'm not a quitter. A cryer during all of this for sure, but not a quitter. And finally we lucked out and found a great landlord and a unique spot so with the biggest hurdles behind me (knock on wood) we are officially underway and I finally feel comfortable sharing.

So this is my new home away from home. Ain't she a beauty? NO. The answer to that question is no. If you think this is bad, wait till you see the inside. But she has a lot of positives - location, size, and most importantly - free range to change whatever I want. Of course when I planned and dreamed about this whole thing, I had visions of a super cute little shop downtown with a fabulous store front. But the more time this little mint julep and I spend together the more we are bonding. And let's be real, who doesn't love a great before and after?! Can I get an Amen!

And speaking of mint, that is the first thing to go. In my ice cream mint is an excellent thing, on buildings not so much.

So what will be in this little cinderblock gem? I'll have my office, which means I can have client meetings, store all my goodies and finally use my dining room table at home for dining. Wahoo! And on the retail end I'll have tons of great vintage furniture and lamps that have been refurbished, refinished and refreshed as well as accessories, custom lampshades and pillows, art etc. The goal being to provide people with pieces that have the character and uniqueness of vintage items without the work of having to remove the funk (old upholstery, broken drawers, missing legs etc.)

I'll for sure take y'all along as renovations progress and as I prepare for opening day, which will hopefully be in mid-June.

So, that's my Friday news. What do y'all have going on this weekend?

If you have a life and it isn't on social media, does anyone notice it?

Hey, I remember you! Long time no see. I may have had to do a bit of internet sleuthing to 'remember' my password to login to ye old blog, but now that I'm back it is just like riding a bike. (You hit enter at the end of a paragraph, right? ha)

I've got some fun stuff to share with you but I can't jump into that without addressing my absence. That would be like trying to dance around the giant elephant in the middle of the room. And if you know me then you know, I don't dance.

The obvious question is - just where the hell have I been and why haven't I been blogging about whatever it is I've been doing?! I'll answer the first question by saying that I continue to work with really fun clients on really cool spaces and they keep this girl on her toes. I try my best to be with my babies who are less and less like babies every day. Tear. Eve is going to be starting Kindergarten in the fall, which would make many a mom sad but I just gleefully think about having both girls in school five days a week, all damn day. I'm one excited mom. I talk to the hubs about how we should have more date nights but never get around to planning said date nights. You know, the basics.

I'm not going to sit here and tell you that I haven't blogged because I'm... that horrible 4-letter B word. That is a copout. Everyone is b*#y. It's called having a life. Even my 5-year-old told me the other day how b*#y she was. It is all relative people, and I do not dare to think, nor do I want to insinuate that my daily schedule is any more difficult, more important or more fascinating than anyone else's and therefore gives me the excuse to not do something. Not gonna happen.

So this leads me to answer the second part of that question - why haven't I been blogging about whatever it is I've been doing? Now to be technical, I do Instagram all the live-long day (except for the past week or so, but I'll address that next time). But Instagram and a blog post are far from the same thing. So I'm just going to lay it out there. For me, blogging became...tainted is the first word that comes to mind. When I decided to join this blog world way back when it was for an honest desire to share my design thoughts and ideas with like-minded people who enjoyed ogling at well designed spaces and talking about fabric, paint and furniture placement. And I just like to write. It was no more thought out than that. I liked the community - sharing ideas, building friendships over similar interests, braiding flowers into each other's hair while we sang in a circle. OK, maybe not that last one, but you get the idea - it was fun. Just fun.

And then over time it became about making money, affiliate links, following the oh-so important (eye roll) blogging schedule, getting professional pictures taken for a post on changing out a shower curtain and other general hysteria. In short, it wasn't fun anymore. I wasn't into blogging to make a career out of blogging. I blogged to escape from my career for an hour or two a day. So I dropped the mic and went on with my life. I would think about it from time to time and say to myself I really should write something. But it was like when you haven't run in two years and you think back fondly on that marathon you ran way back when - it is a nice memory but the idea of 'getting back into it' seems overwhelmingly hard. So I didn't.

And then about a month ago I ran into someone I hadn't seen in quite some time and we had a glorious catch up until she said - "So what are you doing now?"

A bit confused I said, "Still at my design business. Things are going great actually, I'm about to..."

"Oh." She stopped me mid sentence, "I thought you quit that. You know, since you weren't blogging anymore."

Oh hell to the no girl! She needed that mat from Office Space because she was doing some major jumping to conclusions. But I couldn't be mad for long because she had a point. One of my greatest joys in life is also what I do for a living (lucky to say that) so of course my general chatting about design stuff would occasionally cross over into chatting about my design business stuff which would then end up on my 'not about work but about fun' blog. How's that for blurred lines? So I had a talk with myself and agreed that I shouldn't give up something I enjoy doing - talking about design and writing - just because the forum in which I was doing it was no longer fun. Don't hate the player, CHANGE the game.

So I'm not going to worry about the rules of blogging. I'm going to blog like its 2008. When I've got something to share, I'll do it. Sometimes there might be a picture, sometimes there won't. (gasp) I won't worry about what time to hit 'publish' in order to maximize my readership or make sure to give my post a title that will increase my search probability on Google. And I won't be plugging anything except my damn self.

There it is my friends. I'm putting the fun back into blogging. Boom. So if you want to hang out, grab a drink and let's chat. And if you are long gone that's OK too. After all, I gleefully wrote on this sucker for months before anyone noticed.

Cheers!

This is getting too long so I'll share my new news next time. What?! A post with plans for another one?! I know, crazy right.

it all comes down to books and flowers

While doing some prep work for a photo shoot recently I went thru my stacks of magazines, books, binders, and Pinterest for some inspiration. And y'all know what I realized? All you really need for styling is some flowers and a few books.

Miles Redd

Jeffrey Bilhuber

The really good photos, are where the rooms speak for themselves. A little bit of life (aka flowers) is added and a simple stack of books to say, "hell yeah this room gets used" and you've got yourself the makings of a great photo.

Deborah French

Of course this is with the understanding that the room itself is 'great'. But really that's what you are wanting to see - the details of the room. The more accessories that are added, that more they take away from the design. Just some flowers/plants and a few books and you are good.

Domaine: Angie Hranowsky

Peppermint Bliss

Everyone is in danger of overdosing on accessories (I've totally been guilty of this). I mean come on, how many times have you come home from HomeGoods with a whole bag of things you didn't even realize you needed? Maybe sometimes we should let those things pass. 

Now understand, I'm not into absolutes, so I won't say get rid of your knick knacks all together, but let's try to use a bit less fluff and instead really show off the furniture, lamps, pillows, curtains and rugs that you've spent quality time reinventing and refinishing or quality $$ purchasing. Let the big details shine.

Am I alone here? Do you ever get the less is more itch? Are you happy dusting all of those bits and bobbles? Let's discuss. 

you've got to kiss a lot of frogs

A quick note first to say THANK YOU all for your kind words about the blue and white event we will no longer mention. Each and every one of you put a smile on this mom's face. As Dolly Parton said, "Laughter thru tears is my favorite emotion."

I often do posts on here and on Instagram of the wonderful things I find when I'm out and about in the grand world of antique stores. However, I think sometimes all of those grand finds may mislead you to think I am always finding great things. OR, that I only go to stores that have wall to wall awesome.

Not the case my friends.

As my grandmother used to say about estate sales - you've got to kiss a lot of frogs. For every great thing I find, there are 10 horrible things I see. Really that's optimistic, it is probably closer to 30 horrible things, but you get the idea. So, I thought I'd share some of them not only for a good laugh, but to show that in a store full of crazy crap, there can often be a great gem. Don't write off a place by what you see in the window. And with that, I think I'm fresh out of clichés. Let's shop.

Oh the irony. A sign about everything being for sale, with a big fat NFS tag on it. The dreaded NFS (Not For Sale )is something that usually makes me angry to no end, but in this case I was quite alright with it.

Slap my ass, that is certainly a piece of work.

There are always spooky old dolls. Always.

Perfectly normal item to see. But not really.

Just don't.

If you were going as Run DMC for Halloween, these would actually be useful.

Clowns, are pretty ubiquitous, as is bad art. So this one scores on both counts.

Taxidermy is also pretty common, unfortunately. But notice this is just inches away from great silver and gold champaign buckets and just opposite the isle from the booth where I got my bamboo bench.

Body parts. In a bag.

This.

And my favorite piece of all. This has been in one of my favorite shops for at least two years. I'm all for ironic art, and I enjoy good humor,  but this is not for me. Or apparently anyone else. Two years.

So remember, it only takes one good item to make a "crappy store" turn into that "cute little place you found that great (fill in the blank here)". There is never a shop I'll refuse to check out. The thrill of the unknown is just too great. I have a pretty regular list of places that I stop in weekly, bi-weekly or monthly depending on their success rate. And if you go often enough, you can breeze thru a place in under 15 minutes making it a great thing to do in between appointments, when you are a little early on your way to pick up or anytime you have a free patch of time.

Where are your places to shop? Do you get overwhelmed by the places with wall to wall 'stuff'? Need help finding something? Email me, and I'll find it for you.

Cheers to the hunt!

a moment of silence for my blue and white

I can still hear the crash. It's been a little over a week now but it hurts as much as if it just happened. My oldest was grabbing a bowl from the bottom shelf, and for reasons I still haven't gotten a clear explanation for, she grabbed onto the top shelf, putting all her weight on the corner and there by causing the top shelf to come. crashing. down.

Working downstairs when it happened, I heard a big thud, lots of breaking...whatever blue and white is made out of, and a quick "I didn't do it!" And then tears. Her's and mine. The hubs and I both arrived in the kitchen at the same time to see the carnage. All he said was, "Go downstairs. I'll take care of this."

Of course, it should go without saying, no one was hurt and that's what's most important (blah blah blah). But damn, my heart is hurt big time. Not only because I love my blue and white and have worked hard over half my life to collect all this stuff, but also because there were several sentimental pieces that were broken. The foot bath I was going to use in my wedding which I bought on a day that still ranks in my memory as one of the best. As well as the blue and white bowls I ended up going with for my centerpieces. (I couldn't get enough foot baths.) And a small blue and white jar I got at one of my first auctions. Things that cannot be replaced. Ugh, the humanity!

Now many would say 'see, that is why I don't have nice things with children around.' but I see that as a huge copout. I accidentally dropped a pair of scissors on my foot yesterday and took a big chunk out of my toe (true story), but that isn't going to prevent me from keeping scissors in the house. Life happens. I grew up with a house of treasures and antiques and believe me when I say many pieces were broken over the years. But my parents continued to collect and that home helped to develop my sense of beauty and joy. Kids climb things, things break, mommies cry. Life goes on.

Luckily this wasn't my entire b&w collection and now I don't have to feel guilty that I have too many pieces when I buy a new piece. So that's something. And in the grand scheme of life, this isn't a big deal. Upsetting, YES. Life altering, no. But just don't ask me about it, I still might cry.

What's broken at your house? Did you ever reconsider putting things 'out' with little ones around? Do you keep your broken pieces in an old shopping bag in your basement? Just me?

i will never stop collecting chairs

In the spirit of my post on my (former) mantel I thought I would address a clear hypocrisy. I know I just told you that it's good to acknowledge the elephant in the room and remove things that aren't working in your space. True. And, I know I've discussed many times my love of 'riding' and purging crap that you don't need. Very true. However, there is a time when all of those rules and truths go right out the window and that is when you encounter a killer chair. Curves, lines, wood, fabric, chairs have it all they are addicting.

Here we have just a SMALL sampling of chairs I have in my SMALL home that don't currently have a 'place'. I refuse to get rid of any of them, nor will I get rid of their siblings that sit in rejected groups in other rooms of the house. The hubs often suggests selling them but I scream "From my cold dead hands!" and he walks away shaking his head. Some of these do have in-the-near-future plans but others might be headed to storage for a vacation.

And damn it if I'm not on my way out to look at more chairs. Luckily I can often share my chair habit with clients and know that the beauties are living in a happy home somewhere where I can visit them. But I will never stop collecting. Never. And one day I'll have cause to hold a large gathering at my house where everyone will need a seat and I won't have to rent a single chair. So that's something.

Don't make me feel alone here, what do you hoard? Anything you don't have the room to keep but refuse to toss? Have any chairs I can take off your hands?

she was a good faux elephant

When I change things up I change things up.

I may have mentioned recently that I am making some changes to my living room, thanks to welcoming home this baby.

Truth is though she was just the push I needed to start making changes that I've had in mind for quite some time. Remember what I always tell the hubs, by the time I tell you about a change/idea I've already been mulling it over for a few months.

And before my mother anyone rolls their eyes at the fact that I'm changing things up, again, I just did a little research and realized that the last time I changed the 'ol living room was 2012. (thanks to the blog for keeping track of these things for me) Dude. 2012 is a long time. Especially for a girl who used to change up her bedroom so often I'd get in trouble (note: don't switch your bedroom with the guest bedroom without asking your mom first. Even if you are cute and 10, it won't go over well)

When we were house hunting all those years back, a fireplace was at the top of my wish list. Right behind three bedrooms and two bathrooms. Proof that you can score 0 for 3 on your wish list and still end up with the perfect house. But that's another post.

Long story short, we put an offer in on our house and I made a mental floor plan immediately with this family mantel as the center piece. I wanted a fireplace and damn it, I was going to have one. Thank God I have parents who hoard as much furniture as I do.

But because of the layout of the room the mantel had only one place to go, along the longest wall of the room, which at times made furniture layout a bit of a pickle. Over time, I got the itch to take the living room from a room where we could sit for a drink or some polite conversation to a room where everyone could hang out comfortably. Comfort often requires size (you gotta be able to spread those legs out) and size requires that one, and only, long wall in the room.

So...I call uncle. I have acknowledged the elephant in the room and have shown her the door. And as a side note, once that mantel was gone, I felt a huge weight lifted. I don't know about you, but for me mantels are just pressure-packed styling challenges staring you in the face 24/7. Ahhhh, sweet release.

And that's the latest from LBD headquarters. The mantel is out, and furniture is in. More about all of that at a later date. But for today, a hand over the heart for the mantel. Oh, and no fear on her fate, she's happily nestled in at my sister's place. A family that trades furniture often is a family full of bad backs. (antiques are heavy)

Have you ever had an elephant in the room that you had to work around? Ever gotten rid of something you never thought you would and felt great afterwards? Want to help me move some furniture?

project design - refresh your living room with this inexpensive tip

Welcome to the long weekend my friends! Today I'm joining several blog friends to talk about different ways to give your living room a refresh without spending the earth. And if you are anything like me, with a happy spring holiday weekend ahead, a bit of time fluffing a busy room in my house sounds like a great way to unwind! (I know, I'm weird)

I wanted to think a bit outside the blogger box and share something that absolutely anyone could do. Something that would give you a big change for ZERO dollars. That's right, no money spent and no DIY necessary. How's that for a budget buster?!

My advice is to turn on some great music, make yourself a good drink, give your arms and legs a quick stretch and then start moving furniture. Instead of buying something new, or even rushing to paint, just try moving that chair out of the corner. Switch the sofa to the other wall. Bring a table in from another room and put a lamp on it to brighten up a dead space. It is amazing to me how different a room FEELS, let alone looks, by spending just a bit of time shuffling everything up.

And the best part is, if it doesn't work, just move it again. No harm and no money lost. Just keep shuffling until it feels right. You'll find a new life given to your room, and a desire to actual spend time in there again.

Be sure to check out the other wonderful bloggers sharing their tips today, and thanks so much to Mary Ann and Cindy for asking me to join in.

classic•casual•home

Don't Disturb This Groove

Lime In The Coconut

My Sweet Savannah

Pretty Petals 

Rough Luxe Lifestyle

Roses and Rust

Stone Gable

When was the last time you gave your room a new layout? What would you move around in your living room? Remember, lift with your knees and don't spill your drink!

project design

Morning sunshine! There are (only) seven days of school left and it is the talk of our household. Those under the age of 8 are thrilled, while those over the age of 8 are having that standard parental "ugh summer break is upon us!!!!" reaction. Luckily we all agree on our level of excitement for the pool opening this coming weekend. A big WAHOO to that!! But I digress.

I spent some time this weekend stealing accepting peonies from my neighbors' yards before they die on the vine (or stem) and brightened a corner of my living room as I shared on Instagram. (follow me here) And it got me thinking about all the different ways there are to update a room for spring, beyond just adding flowers.

Luckily, this 'thinking' is going to pay off for all of us. My friends Cindy (Rough Luxe Lifestyle) and Mary Ann (classic casual home) have asked me to participate in the next round of Project Design and the topic is"Refresh Your Living Room with These Inexpensive Tips". So come Friday I'll be sharing my ideas, along with these wonderful bloggers.

classic•casual•home

Don't Disturb This Groove

Lime In The Coconut

My Sweet Savannah

Pretty Petals 

Rough Luxe Lifestyle

Roses and Rust

Stone Gable

Do you like to do a refresh to your living room each spring? Any update you've always wanted to try but have just never gotten around to? Anything you want me to try? I love being a guinea pig. 

she went out for a pack of smokes and never came back

So as I was saying...

Ha, just kidding. Yes, it's been a while. How the hell are ya?! Did you think I'd fallen off the face of the earth? You gotta know I wouldn't ever leave you hanging like that. Have no doubt, I still think about you all the time and I've got tons to share. A million things have been happening, and at the same time nothing crazy is going on. Just regular life, like everyone else.

The inspiration for my living room changes

I will say this blogging break has been good for me to get a fresh mind, take a deep breath and find out where my design mind is headed and I can say that the times they are a changin. Currently three rooms in my house are in major flux. Well, 3.5 really. And those of you that have been around for a while know, my house is NOT big. 3.5 rooms, that's like 80% of my house or something.

#ProjectBrentwood

I've been lucky beyond words to be working with lots of great clients who are inspiring me not only in my work with them, but kicking me in the pants to make some changes at home. What better place to experiment than at home, right? It's the idiot in me - when I'm busy with work, I tend to pile more things on at home just to put the cherry on top of my chaos sundae. I'm seeing about getting some help for my condition, if insurance will cover it.

#ProjectChesterfield

So where am I going with all of this? That wasn't rhetorical. Really, what am I trying to say? I don't know either. Mostly I guess just HELLO! I'm still here and I'll be around a lot more. It's been a long while since I've had an unplanned, free-flowing, no specific topic post. Aaannnd, I think we now all see why. It's a big bag of muddled weird in this head.

#ProjectSouthCity

Thanks for all of you who emailed and texted me to check in. I really do have the best blog friends. Now give me the dirt. What have I missed??? Anything big going on? What's new with you?!

using pinterest as my travel agent

Good. Gracious. What a week! It was a busy one for sure. A lot was accomplished but a lot was lost as well (auctions are stressful and putting things on 'hold' is just torture). I'm ready for Calgon to take me away, but since my jet is in the shop I'll just have to imagine my weekend.

I'll have a cozy night of good food and cocktails with friends.

via

Then I'll spend Saturday swimming and sipping cocktails. (my butt looks really good in that pool, doesn't it?!)

via

And Sunday I'll be eating take out while watching House of Cards all the livelong day. 

via

Not a bad little (faux) weekend I have planned. What about you? What will you be doing this weekend? Have any real, or faux plans?

monday minute - birthday tradition

Rise and shine, it's ONE degree outside! Remind me again why I live somewhere that would be so cold?!

Monday's are not usually a day I post because I try to make the weekends pure family time and that would mean I'd have to write a post for Monday on Friday and let's be honest, that kind of advanced preparation is just not happening. But from time to time, there are quick little things I want to share. Not in a big long post, but just a quick 'hey, check it out' way. Hence the not promised to at all be regularly scheduled new series, Monday Minute.

Yesterday we celebrated Eve's birthday. My baby is four (insert tears here) and so we celebrated. Kids birthdays could be an entire series on their own, and I know when talking with friends the phrase 'kid's birthday party' is a lightening rod. I'm not going to get into all of that except to say that I tend to revolt against that type of parental pressure. We don't do huge birthday parties (except for the 1st birthday which is really more of a celebration for the parents who made it thru the first year). But, we do have several family birthday traditions. And the biggest hit without a doubt is the tradition of decorating the birthday tablecloth.

Easy as can be. I roll out brown craft paper on the table, bring out the always under lock and key and therefore a treat in and of it self - MARKERS and let the girls go to town. I always do their name, because they usually want it really big (duh) but they do the rest. They have usually picked out a theme of sorts, Eve's was rainbows, and we just have a free for all color session.

I let them trace a plate at each seat and then determine the seating chart. It gives very anxious birthday people something to occupy their time, it gives them some 'control' that they are determining what their party will look like and they are always thrilled when the guests arrive and they can show everyone their seat.

Add a rainbow of balloons (the yellow popped early but the extra pink was happy to stand in) and whatever flower the birthday girl picks from Trader Joe's (another birthday tradition) and voila - birthday prep complete. We also always get a cookie amuse-bouche at the bakery when we pick up the cake. A bunch of little traditions add up to a lot of things to look forward to.

Nothing pinworthy or pintastic, but something the girls love. And the older they get, the more they talk about what they will be putting on their birthday tablecloth days (or weeks) before the big day.

Happy girls = happy parents.

Do you have fun family traditions for birthdays? Anything your kids look forward to? (besides the presents of course) Want to invite me to your beach house to ride out the rest of the winter? Thanks so much!

what is fearless design

"She is fearless in her design."

I've heard that dozens of time about dozens of designers. Men and women. Professionals and novices. But between you and me, I'm not exactly sure what this means.

Design, contrary to how it sometimes feels, is not a matter of life and death. If someone does something "different" in design, no one gets hurt. Lives aren't ruined. And you can find just as many 'experts' who will tell you there are no rules in design as there are 'experts' who says there are rules in design. So if it is indeed a wide open world based purely on personal taste, what exactly makes something, or someone, fearless?

Is it a polite term for ugly? The same way eccentric is a nice word for crazy. Or is this just another overused and therefore meaningless phrase, like 'epic'.

What do you think? What is your definition of fearless design?

nashville antiques and garden show - road trip recap

I can't believe it has already been almost two weeks since I went down to Nashville for the Antiques and Garden Show. If you follow me on Instagram (and if you don't, why the hell not?!) then you got to see some of the highlights, but I thought a full recap was in order. And please note, 'full recap' is blogger speak for 'a whole lot of pictures'.

To travel for a weekend full of walking and ogling over antiques, I could think of no better companion than my mom. She is the one who taught me all I know about antiques and spent the first 18 years of my life dragging me across the country thru every home and museum open to the public. So dragging her around a huge convention center and a very busy city for a weekend was the least I could do. And by the end of each day, trust me, we were dragging.

Thursday afternoon kicked off the weekend with a private event for a handful of bloggers and all of the stars of the show, hosted by the wonderful women at StyleBlueprint. I got there just in time for a discussion on inspiration, the good and bad side of trends, process, successes and failures, the power of social media and basically all things design. Heaven people. Pure heaven.

From left to right: Christopher Spitzmiller, Kreis Beall, Suzanne Kasler, Carolyn Englefield, Michael Devine and Margot Shaw

We also got a preview of the show to open bright and early the next morning. After this point, things get a bit fuzzy. Staring down at the show was the last moment of calm for the weekend. The next three days were a blur of talks, celeb sightings, and almost more eye candy than my eyes could handle. Almost.

There were about a half dozen speaking events over the course of the show, and I could go on for hours about all the wonderful stories, advice and great one liners from everyone I saw. But in going thru my notes, yes I took notes, I thought I would share some of my favorite bits and pieces.

I texted this picture to the hubs as I waited for Diane Keaton to take the stage. The elderly lady sitting next to me said, "What is a blog, anyway?" We started to chat but then Diane came out and the lady proclaimed, "Oh thank God she isn't wearing gloves!" How I love visiting with strangers.

My fuzzy picture of my new best friends, Diane Keaton and Alexa Hampton (Alexa later retweeted this picture). I must say that Alexa Hampton is my new crush. I already loved her work but now I'm a total fan of the whole woman. She was SO funny, self-deprecating, quick witted, and basically just an all around gem.

And Diane Keaton was exactly how you think she would be; so sweet, open and just relaxed. It was like she was just chatting with 300 of her like-minded friends. She talked about her work on more than 30 houses, experiences with contractors, real estate and her life long love of design.

My seats for all the other speaking events were much further back so pictures weren't an option. But, luckily my ears are good so in no particular order... some of my favorite quotes of the weekend:

Spitzmiller - "I never go for cutting edge. I go for what feels good to me."

Englefield - "What's important is how a place feels and does it have a soul."

Kessler - "Clients want a foundation of tradition, but not traditional. Style evolves so if you respond to something, then bring that in. Let that give you the freedom to find your own style."

Devine - "There is a hunger for more pretty in design."

Keaton - "Play with your dreams and then just do it for Gods sakes."

Then there is the other side of the show, the goods. So. Many. Amazing. Things. Booths from all over the country, even a few abroad, with dealers who knew their stuff. They were all so friendly and the combo of knowledge, kindness and incredible taste paid off because I will tell you - things were selling like hot cakes. I can't even tell you how many things I saw on Friday that were sold by Saturday. There were things at vastly different price ranges so there was honestly something for everyone. My mom and I tend to pick the most expensive thing in a booth, so we were generous enough to let others buy many of our picks.

There were booths styled to perfection.

That leather was as soft as a baby's bum.

Miles of amazing furniture.

Can you say custom banquet perfection? Look at that right angle.

Chinoiserie secretary in pristine condition and the most perfect scalloped solid brass lamp. Damn it why am I not rich?!

I may have shed a tear when I saw this bar. Wouldn't my gin collection fit perfectly in there? It sold quickly to a very smart woman (sadly not this smart woman).

Lamps. So many great lamps.

Some with shades that I now dream about regularly (silk peacock blue custom shade? yes please)

And some with no shades at all.

If only I had more money, I would have taken her home with me.

Luggage for my next trip.

And of course, blue and white as far as the eye could see.

We also got to spend a bit of time exploring Nashville which is a city I want to spend more time in. I could go on for days but the moral of the story is, I will for sure be going back. A huge thank you to all of the wonderful women from the Nashville Antiques and Garden Show and StyleBlueprint for including me. I will be back!