Couture on a Budget

I love finding great small businesses to shop at.  I have a few favorites here in Indy that I hit anytime I have a gift to buy and want something unique.  So when a friend of mine introduced me to the clothing store Dottie Couture, I knew it was going to become a favorite of mine.  

Dottie Couture began as small boutique in Greenwood and has grown to online sales and another boutique in the Keystone area of Indianapolis.  They have such a great collection of unique clothes, tops, bottoms, scarves, jewelry, and shoes.  

I follow them on instagram, @dottiecouturebtq, where they post daily all of their new stock items.  I love seeing what is coming into the store, however, this can be dangerous because there is always tons of cute things that tempt a shopping spree.  Here are a few items that have recently caught my eye...

Now for the EXCITING part!!!! The SHOPPING!!!!  I have partnered with Dottie Couture to offer readers of JLM Moments an exclusive shopping discount code!!  Dottie Couture will be this week's Friday Favorites post and with that post you will find an exclusive discount code that you can enter one time only for an online purchase!  YAY- cute clothes for a discounted price!!! Who doesn't LOVE that?!  So throughout the week jump on their website, have a few items picked out, and check out my post on Friday for that discount code!!  Here's to looking cute for spring while shopping and supporting small, local businesses!  Thanks Dottie Couture, can't wait to shop!!

Friday Favorites: Statement Necklaces

Accessories have always been something I LOVE!!!  I go between just dainty pieces such as my initial necklace and simple watch- to layering bracelets and my new FAVORITE... statement necklaces!  I have been seeing some really great statement necklace ideas and inspiration on Pinterest lately!  Here are a two of my latest pins (found on the My Style Board of my pinterest account).

I think statement necklaces can really change an entire outfit- toss one on with simple jeans and tee, a dress, or well just about anything.  Let's be honest though, statement necklaces can be expensive!  My rule is simple: I will only spend more money on pieces that I feel are timeless.  They have to be simple colors and a style that will last for years to come!  Below is one of my favorite classic statement necklaces from J.Crew.  I actually bought mine at J.Crew Factory when they had and extra 50% off!

 If it is a trendy color or style, I try to find those pieces at a deal.  Some of my favorite websites to find great deals are:
www.jane.com
www.urbanpeachboutique.com
www.shopsosie.com
www.baublebar.com
Here are a few statement necklaces that have caught my eye lately.

• JCrew FACTORY PETAL CLUSTER NECKLACE
• was $59.50
  now   $34.50
• 40% off 2 or more

• Jcrew FACTORY PARADE FAN NECKLACE
• was $49.50
  now   $44.50
• 40% off 2 or more

Shop Sosie:                         Rowan Necklace              

Shop Sosie:         Estelle Necklace in Turquoise              

It might be time to add a new statement to my collection for the spring season!  Where do you shop for statement necklaces?

Man On A Mission...

When it comes to home projects my husband and I function in two very different ways.  I am a discuss it, think it over, look it up on google, pinterest it- kind of girl.  It takes a while for me to settle on a design or idea- I want to do it right, the first time!  My lovely husband, on the other hand, is a chat about it once- doing it the next day, kind of guy.  I have learned to not bring up a project to him until I am really ready to make it happen.  We had a discussion a little while back about needing to get our garage in order.  We had tools, yard equipment, and other stuff just stacked in corners.  With Emersyn growing fast and gaining large outdoor toys by the minute, I figured it was a great time to get the garage organized.
I showed Ian a few pinterest pictures from my, For The Home Board, of some great peg board ideas.

Then on Saturday Eme and I went out for some shopping and errand running and came back to...

Yep- you guessed it.  A peg board organization wall up, painted our house color, framed, and tools hung.  LOVE that man.  Let's just say he gets **** done!

There is plenty of space to add to this wall with peg board baskets and hooks for toys.  I love having the flexibility of just moving the hooks when we need to rearrange items.  Thanks hunny... here's the next pinterest picture I showed him...

I told him he can start on this whenever he wants!  haha- in my dreams!!!

Friday Favorite: A New Workout

Honestly, I use to enjoy working out pre-Emersyn.  I always feel better when I am working out and in a routine.  I have never been a gym person though- I really don't like all the people.  I have always just done videos in my basement.  Even during pregnancy I got my workouts in- less often but regularly.  I used the Tracy Anderson Pregnancy Project (a series of videos for each month).
Then came Emersyn... and my workout routine pretty much came to a screeching halt!  Not only was there not time for workouts but I lacked the energy or desire.  Luckily Eme was a spring baby, so I got out and walked everyday.  During the summer, I walked about 4 miles with Emersyn each morning.  For me this was enough to call a workout and not worry about videos.  I would toss in a squat, lunge, or sit up here or there but that's it.
Finally, after about 11 months I decided to try to get back to it.  Wow, getting back into a routine is HARD!  I found myself using every excuse possible to NOT do a video.  That is when I thought I needed to try something new.

I had heard about Pure Barre workouts from both a good friend and my sister in law.  Both girls talked about how hard it was- but hard in a good way.  That so sore you can't sit down the next day kinda hard.  That made me nervous- I hadn't worked hard at a workout in a long time.  So with my friend Kelsey by my side I took my first Pure Barre class and... OH MY!!!

It was like nothing I had ever done!!!  It is not a workout that gets your heart pumping or high intensity- it is a workout that targets the small muscles and works each to exhaustion.  In each class, you use small hand weights, a small exercise ball, arm bands, and a ballerina bar.  You follow a routine that targets ALL muscles from shoulders, arms, abs, seat (as they call your ass in class), thighs, hamstrings... am I missing something- if so you will feel it the next morning- TRUST ME!

It is 60 minutes of putting away all other thoughts and focusing on making the body you have strong.  I am HOOKED!!  The down side to this would be the price.  It is a bit expensive- but I do not pay a gym membership and they offer a teacher discount.  I have been attending only on weekend mornings.  It is something I wake up first thing and do for myself and honestly this workout is my FAVORITE right now!  I attend the Pure Barre Studio in Carmel, IN.

If I can't make a class or for some reason I find the energy after I put Emersyn to bed, some videos I love and have used for years are: P90X, Turbo Fire, Tracy Anderson, Brazilian Butt Lift (don't laugh- it's a tough one!).
So what is your go to favorite workout?  Do you have any videos to recommend?  Or can you help me get over my fear of gyms?

A Little Spring Stay...

When it comes to a guest room, I always like something that feels fresh, clean and welcoming.  I think the feeling of spring is one of the best!  After long winters, everything about spring is so welcomed- the colors, scents, warmth.  This spring feeling was the inspiration behind my guest room.  It is spring all year long when you stay in this room.

BEFORE...

AFTER...

When designing this room I started with a quilt we got for our wedding.  It had such pretty, bright colors that I could use for other room accents.  The quilt is mainly blue- so although most would immediately think blue should be the accent color, I didn't want to overwhelm the room with only one color.  So I dove a little deeper into the quilt and found this pretty peach tone.

I contacted my designer sister Jessica from jessicastoutdesign to refurbish an old dresser.  We chose a matching peach tone to paint the dresser to break up the blue tones from the quilt and the black from the bed and matching night stand.  Then we added some whimsical black and white knobs to pull in the black tones.  I wanted this same peach somewhere else in the room, so we also painted a picture frame for the opposite night stand.  This allows accents of the same peach tone throughout the room.  I also hung two blue bird photos down low right above each night stand.  When having two night stands that don't match it is nice to have something that brings them together in the design.

To go along with the peach frame, I use a stack of cream and blue books from Good Will and a cluster of fake peach peonies.

Above the bed, I hung a mirror we use to have in the hallway.  On the bed I used the blue color from the quilt as large pillows and added a throw pillow with the touch of peach again.

When deciding on an accent color I think it is important to use that color within the room at least three times.  Allow that color to show up as your eye moves around the room.  If it does, then it will make the impact you are hoping for!

Our guest room is open to anyone who doesn't mind being 'jack and jill' connected with our little one year old! Any takers... No... well, Happy Spring from a pretty room!  Stay tuned for more spring decor ideas!

A Very Happy Day...

Well it happened... my sweet girl turned one!!!  How did this year go by so fast?  As I started to prep for her little party I didn't want an over the top theme- for a couple of reasons.  One- themes have never really been my thing and two- I didn't want to spend a lot of money.  With that said, I went with the color scheme from Eme's room and the idea of 'Time Flies' with bird accents.  

ALL of the decorations were either DIY projects or existing decor from rooms in our house.  I first created this little 'time flies' banner with scrapbook paper and yarn.  Then printed the photos I took of Eme each month.  It was really fun to see at how she had changed throughout the year.

I already have this DIY yellow painted plate rack in my kitchen so I decided to use it as the background for the cake eating/smashing area.  I filled it with items that represented Emersyn's first year.  The clock stopped at 10:09 (her birth time), the yarn wrapped E, bird rocker, and two pictures were all from her nursery.  The peach bird came from our guest room and the small IKEA plant always stays on this shelf.  I just added a little fresh hydrangea and made a super easy fabric banner.  I also made a little banner out of scrapbook paper saying ONE for her high chair.

I wanted to display as many pictures as possible for guests to enjoy, so I used our sofa table as the perfect little display area.  I simply covered it with some scrap black and white striped fabric and added these cardboard letters spelling ONE which I covered with scrapbook paper, lots of framed photos, fresh flowers, the DIY love sign, and a bird or two.

I also used the counter tops as a space to display memories.  Along with the desserts, I had more framed pictures, my pregnancy journal, and a shadow memory box.

I have been keeping track of Emersyn's changes, likes, dislikes and more each month on our chalkboard.  So for her birthday I wanted to create an overview of what she is like at 12 months.

On to the real fun... the CAKE!  We ordered this sweet little ombre cake from our local Kroger for $4.99!! What a deal!! I made the little banner with yarn, scrapbook paper, and kabob sticks.

Emersyn was so sweet- with a dainty finger she gently took a scoop of icing for tasting.  No big mess or face smashing here...Oh No- my little lady took small bites at a time with her legs crossed under her high chair!  She really melts my heart!!  The little pink and gold crown Emersyn is wearing was made by my sister.  She tells you how on her blog- check that out here!

On to the presents!! Emersyn was spoiled with lots of fun toys ready for outside play this summer!  I think her favorite gift was this sweet little tea set.  She sat and played with that for most of the afternoon.

It was certainly a wonderful day celebrating our sweetheart!!  Side note- Emersyn did not take a nap for this WHOLE day- apparently it is her party and she'll do what she wants:)