Southern College Girl + Ecletic/Rustic/DIY Style = A COOL Little Apartment

Well Hello there!  

Are you ready for a new year?

I was thinking about the MANY loose ends I had,

which made me think about drafts I had written but never posted here.

(I just hate when I do that)

Anyway, most of them were pretty silly but since I get a 

book of my blog posts every year,

there were a few that I wanted to be included in the book.

This first one is about how we turned my daughter's tiny loft apartment 

into a cool little sanctuary 

for her to live in, study, and hang out with friends.

I might ramble a bit at first but then we'll move on to mostly pictures, 

so hang in there:)

Yes, my baby left for college in August.  

(We won't talk about how difficult that was for moi;)

She is just 18 but transferred to the University of Alabama as a junior.

The school has grown so much that 

  freshmen are required to live on campus in the beautiful dorms but

pretty much everyone else gets some sort of apartment.

This actually worked well for her because as a Biology/Pre-Med major,

she has a pretty intense course load and wanted her own space 

to study whenever she needed to.

After a bit of searching,

 we found a small one bedroom/one bath loft style apartment.

It is in an older building downtown that was renovated into apartments...

"luxury" apartments.  Hmmm...well they are nice but I would say 

more rustic than luxurious.

However, the security, location and the type of tenant is definitely a cut above

your normal college student apt building, 

for which my husband and I are grateful! ;)

I really have to set this place up.

As I said, these are brand new apartments in an older building 

so they tried to make them new

and upgraded but leave many rustic touches from the old place.

And they did. lol

She has a very nice kitchen and bath with upscale appliances 

and a nice big snack bar.

The floors are concrete.  Yes, I said concrete.  

Like the stuff you would find UNDER

wood floors, but it is no problem as she had some cool rugs picked out.

Her ceilings are super high which makes it feel bigger and it has exposed

beams and stuff like in all loft apartments, which she and her friends think is cool:)

Now, the main wall in the apartment is VERY rough and old looking.

It has lots of "character!"  Seriously though, it is kinda cool because it used to be the wall

to the old Bama Theater from the 1800's 

and as it was a historical building they had to leave it alone.

One good thing...we didn't have to worry about putting holes in the wall

when we hung ALL her stuff!  They were already there! ;)

STYLE:  

Let's talk about style.  

We took the size of the apartment into consideration, 

and the look of it, plus the location and the fact that there are cold months 

in the winter.  We also wanted/needed to use some stuff we already had and 

mix it with a few new pieces.  

She is a chip off the ol block and likes a variety of styles...

she's a little bit boho and likes a casual surf style mixed 

with rustic charm and some western touches.  

Toss in some southern, country charm and it's a cozy little apartment:)

Easy, huh?  let's see.....

After a disastrous screw up by the moving company who didn't deliver her stuff

till AFTER we went home.  

The landlord let them in a week later and they pretty much dumped everything and left.  

 Let the unpacking begin!!!

YIKES!  Where did all this crap come from???

And to think the week we were there waiting for her things to be delivered,

we went shopping for MORE stuff.  

But then again, it was hard to resist the cool shops and vintage thrift boutiques

right outside her door in downtown Tuscaloosa!

Anyway, where do I start.

Okay, there were a few things that were our guidelines in decorating her apartment.

1.  Make good use of some of her favorite things from home

and from trips we've taken.

2.  Do as much DIY as possible.

3.  EVERYTHING had to be cozy, comfy, welcoming and meaningful.

Let's start with the DIY which is mainly in the living room..........

Like many people we are rustic decor fans and obsessed with 

pallets and crates and all the things they can be used for.

As you can see, we stained a TON of crates!  

Here are some of the projects.......

an amazing TV stand!

Remember I said one of our rules was to use her favorite things?

In the above photo, notice these things:

canvas pics of her dogs (diy), her vintage metal Ford sign (she likes ford trucks:), 

cowboy hats,Roll Tide banner (diy), family photos, books, 

Big Al the elephant embellished with jewels (diy........and Alabama mascot!)

 Snack and Soap dispenser crates.............

Crates for all her cowboy boots!!!

And with the remaining crates we made a little book shelf.  

(The bookshelf is not filled but you get the idea!)
Favorite and/or New things in the above photo:
"Wander" sign with wood letters from Urban Outfitters,
Alabama "A" made from metal scrap pieces found at a local shop
and a map of the U.S on wood planks from World Market.
We painted little wooden hearts gold and glued them to all the places she had been.
So that's kind of a DIY, right? :)

Next, she REALLY wanted a pallet coffee table on casters that she made HERSELF!
(To go with the sofa we donated from home:)

We scrounged around, found a pallet and got to work sanding, staining
 and attaching casters with a little help from her dad.

Not bad, right?  I'd take one in a heartbeat! :)
It was very easy to do if you're interested.
This photo: a lucky horseshoe from our Texas road trip, metal Amazing Grace cross and all sitting on top of her pride and joy........a cowhide rug.  She wanted lots of rugs and layered them around her apartment.


Also, notice the crate end table and as I said, our old sofa from home:) Also her favorite metal Beach sign from a flea market and a canvas with a horseshoe that has Nashville printed on it. (Another favorite place:)

finishing up with the living room, here are some of the other little touches she has on the wall.........

Her sweet friend that she bought at a local vintage shop:)

(Notice the twinkle lights, which are now strung ALL OVER the apartment!)

A chalkboard she hand lettered with one of her favorite verses and has a place up high on her wall so she sees it every time she walks in the door............

and a few other items............

 Next up, the coziest rustic/girly bedroom ever!

We got a room size white rug for a steal to go with the girly, white ruffled bedding.

The headboard is to die for, if I say so myself! 

It is a barn door headboard made by our new friend John who

lives in Auburn Alabama.  He made it, delivered it, set it up and helped us hang a few other

things in the apartment.  Check him out on etsy...........

Dixon and Dad.  He's a great guy who makes beautiful wood pieces!!!

 We found the CRIMSON chair at a store in Tuscaloosa called The attic and the lamp shade was embellished by us:)

My DIY piece in the bedroom is the bedside stand, which I hand stamped myself.

Everything has a meaning on it, from her favorite verses, to her favorite country singers,

RTR for roll tide roll, USA and more........

This is the view my sunshine has from her bed and another pic of the bedside stand, as well as her beloved guitar and an enlarged pic of our favorite horse from Texas!

 Every good college student needs a study area so here is hers.........

notice the old wall from the Bama Theatre?

Almost done! LOL

what would we do without mason jars?
Here are some we painted to use as a vanity set.............

Lastly, the Kitchen...........
Just your typical kitchen with cool throw rugs, four cow print snack bar chairs and
fun stuff from home and travels........

Vintage soda crates.........



And what better message to see every morning when getting your coffee...




Good Morning Gorgeous!

Above the door is a message for all to see.........

And she's off to her first day of class.......complete with a houndstooth bag which is
VERY Bama!

Just go down University Blvd and turn left at the stadium.............

 Good Luck, Bama Girl!!!!!

XOXOXOXO
Suzanne

Michael Kors is Pretty in Pink, Tan and White, just in time for Valentine's Day...and SPRING!

Can you believe it's already Valentine's Day?
Me either!!!
Today, I thought I'd share my favorite picks for a truly
SWEET Treat........for yourself or for your Valentine to give you,
straight from Michael Kors.
(HINT: just send him this blog post and direct him to the
nearest MK lifestyle store;)

Michael Kors Pretty in Pink

I suppose I should say that my daughter works for
 Michael Kors in Naples, Fl.
In fact, she just got a promotion!!!!
Happy, Happy, HAPPY!
She even had a few other offers at the time but when
she got the offer from MK, that sealed it.
She loves working there and she loves the product. (Me too:)

Actually, I liked MK well before she started working there.

She just helps feed my habit;)

Funny thing is, I'm not a "designer" person.

I will shop at MK and then stop at a thrift shop on the way home.

Walmart carries my favorite leggings.

I really like the sundresses at the beach store.

And I'm a regular at Target.
See.....I spread the love and help out a variety of stores!

But I do LOVE Michael Kors.

With Valentine's Day fast approaching, (YIKES..........need cards!)

I thought I'd share my favorite goodies from the new line.

According to Taylorina, they are flying out of the store so act fast.

And if you're near Naples Waterside Shops, 

pop in and see Taylor.

Check out this GORGEOUS line of "Pink".
Complimented by the camel color, it's so fresh!

Are you a fan of Rose Gold?

It's my absolute favorite.

Well before I knew about MK, just sayin:)

In fact, back in the day, I had a ROSE GOLD fingernail on my pinky.

For real.

No kidding.

(although maybe I wish I were;)

And nobody does it better.....see for yourself..........

I just feel that unless you have the skin that is made for silver,

rose gold is such a warm, attractive metal.

Maybe now I should mention two of the things I love about the MK line.

1.  Michael uses a lot of Rose Gold, which I love. (as we already know, right:)

2.  He believes in mixing metal.  Layer it on.  

You don't have to have ALL silver or all gold or rose gold. 

 Thank you!  (This is especially great for us indecisive types:)

Fun fact...........Michael Kors calls his camel color "luggage". 

 It's a best seller, goes with everything and is his own personal favorite color.

And if you don't have anything in that shade, get it:)

And with spring coming, mix it with WHITE!

I also included my first ever, favorite grown up perfume.........

Michael Kors Signature.

It has scents of gardenia, vanilla and more but he had me at gardenia.

Seriously, I wore my daughters perfumes...sweet, surfer girl perfumes:)

Now we all love this.

It's pretty and light enough for life in Florida.......or wherever.

Well, see anything you like?

I know you did;)

Like I said, find a store or shop online at Michael Kors.

If not, I have one more tip!

Someone sent us Shari's Berries for Christmas.

I'd seen and heard the ads but thought.........ewww!

They''ll be rotten before they get to Florida.

Was I WRONG!

We fought over these berries and devoured them in record time.

And these are some seriously big berries!

I just sent some to my Mom for hearts day and her reaction was the same as mine.

Oh My Heck these are good!!! :)

They ship quick so if you need em, there's still time.

Although shipping may be $$$ at this point.)

But keep Shari's Berries in mind!

See ya!

Suzanne

Fashion and Make-up Tips From Mom...........

Well, I missed a few days of the blog every day challenge
so we need to catch up this week:)
The topic for this post is "what are some tips your mom gave you?"
Like everyone else, I could say the obvious ones.......
Read your Bible, go to church, be honest, pay off your credit cards..........
very good advice, right?
But as I was making a list, I found a trend.
The ones that seemed to keep popping up were tips having to do with
make-up and style/fashion.
So I thought, keep it light.  Nobody needs a life lecture.
And it's not like ANY of these are important.  But a little goes a long way, you know?
And she had 4 daughters, so it was in her best interest to pay attention to us.
(Although how she ever let me leave the house in my shimmery bright blue eyeshadow phase, or wear orange high top tennis shoes to church,
I'll never know:) LOL


* * * Please know, she is not vain. My Mom was never some DiIVA, creating mini divas.  We just used to read a lot of magazines and play with make-up:) 
 Appearance is not everything and she would be the first to say it doesn't matter how someone looks.  She would say "I need to figure out what to do with my OWN face",  if you asked her, but that's not true.  She's figured it out, very nicely!!  
See...........

Actually, it cracks me up writing this because I realize I am the same with my girls.
I mean, slap a bit of lipstick on before running out to the store, you know?
They don't always listen, just as I didn't always listen.
And it was/is not all the time.
But I bet someday, they will remember some little tips I passed on that
my mom also said to me.
At least, I hope! lol

 In no particular order, here are some of the "gems" she passed on.........
Unfortunately, I was great about some and not others..........
and yes, she was right!
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 
Make-up Tips
-wear sunscreen everyday, even if it's in your moisturizer or foundation.
Nope...didn't follow that one.  And now I pay.  Or as Jamie Lee Curtis said in Freaky Friday,
"I Look Like The Crypt Keeper"

 -always wash your makeup off before going to sleep. 

-if your face breaks out, don't pick at it:)
-you do NOT need to pay a lot for cosmetics or skin lotion.
I happen to agree with this one.  My Grandma had AMAZING skin using Oil of Olay, and my mom and I love cleaning our face with Pond's Cold Cream:)
-do your makeup in natural light.....and make sure your blush is even.

-  Apply lipstick then blot your lips with a tissue. A few times.  ALWAYS.

-Wear makeup but blend, blend, BLEND.

-Black eyeliner rimming the eye entirely looks harsh.  
-don't scowl.......it makes bad lines.
--use a natural, matte blush.
 We always use a cool pink/warm peach/touch of brown shade.
The intensity depends on your skin tone.  Got it? :)  lol

(M.A.C Desert Rose is a great blush!)
-brown eyeshadow, brown eyeshadow, brown eyeshadow.
-wear your make-up.......don't let the make-up wear you:)

Fashion/Style Tips:

-if something you are buying is damaged in the least, ask for a discount.
she was way better at this than I am.

-when in doubt,wear something black.

-Remember slips?  Her rule was if you can see through a dress/skirt in the sunlight, you MUST wear a slip.  
We would stand in the living room and look in
the big mirror with the light from the picture window shining in, 
to see if a dress was too sheer. Now, I have to confess that we do not wear slips, but
I do shop with the thought in mind that I don't want a skirt too sheer. And we would NEVER have been allowed to try this!

-If you're gonna pierce your ears, wear earrings, even tiny ones at all times. 

 Nobody wants to see an empty hole and you don't want it to close up.
-"It's all about that bling, bout that bling.....:) "Got a plain top or jacket?  Embellish it.
Bling, Bling, BLING!

Well that's it.......... fashion and make-up tips from mom.

Catch you next time!

XOXOXOXO

Suzanne

Style 101.......25 Top Tips!

So here I go again, passing on style tips that
I could use myself!  Oh well...let's figure this out together:)

TOPS

~Wear scoop or v-neck tops to frame the face and "open you up"; few of us look our best in crew neck.  

~Wear blouses with camisoles, and leave the first 2 to 3 buttons open to reveal a small triangle of skin.  Popping your collar a tiny bit (keyword: tiny) frames your face and elongates your neck

~If you want to wear a turtleneck and can pull it off, go for it.  But avoid mock turtlenecks…..they tend to shorten your neck

~If you are very petite, stay away from large cowl necks or too many ruffles that overwhelm you

~Length of tops is important.  Not too short (you need enough to "scrunch" around your hips, reinforcing a smaller waistline); not too long (you don't need to frame the bum)

~Avoid baby doll tops unless you are in fact a baby doll or you are pregnant

~Avoid pockets on your tops…….specifically pockets that are very small or very large

PANTS & SKIRTS

~To balance the hips, choose a boot cut pant, narrow through the hip and thigh, slightly flared from the knee down.  This cut reinforces an hourglass shape.  (However, if you want to downplay too much hourglass, do the opposite)

~Skinny pants create an inverted triangle.  Wear only if the area you want to emphasize is your best area.

* * * *Pants that are cuffed pull the eye down and shorten the legs. Pleated pants add bulk around your stomach

~Cargo pants add bulk to the worst possible spots - your hips and thighs.  Avoid these like the plague.   (Hey….I’d give anything to wear a cute pair but no supermodels here so we avoid them:)

~Capris shorten the legs and widen the ankles. Choose a length more akin to a peddle pusher that hits right at the ankle (think Audrey Hepburn)  

~Skirts look best at or just above the knee.  Choose a pencil if you are comfortable with your waistline.  A-line and gored skirts are great for pear and apple shapes

~Wear long skirts (as in below the calf) with boots and make sure they're cut on the bias so they don't look frumpy

SHOES

~Supposedly, shoes with pointy toes, cut-away arches and those cut low at the toe are the most.  flattering because they extend the long vertical line of your legs (I disagree…they look like wearable boats!)  

~Avoid chunky heels, t-straps and ankle straps as they visually cut off the leg. (Only if this is a concern)

~Throw away all your man clogs.  

~Choose well-made shoes in good materials - you are taking care of your feet, ankles, knees, hips and back if you do

~No matter the color of dress/skirt you are wearing, nude pumps are the most flattering and elongating.  Watch Miss America sometime.  

COLOR & PATTERN

~Pair black with other neutrals (as opposed to primary colors) - white, camel, grey, brown, etc. for a more sophisticated look.  Pair with bright primaries if you have the coloring.

~Pair primary colors (pink, blue, green, yellow, etc.) with white or off-white for a fresher look

~As for khaki pants and shorts - this is the color of school uniforms and camp counselors, and restaurant hosts.  If the shoe fits……. hehehe

~Pattern is tricky.  Look at the best dressed women - they most often dress in solids and add interest with their accessories.  I know trends sometimes show patterns but proceed with caution.  They are tricky…….

~Choose statement jewelry instead of a bunch of teensy pieces. 

* * * *Most of all, wear what you love in the color you love, regardless of the "latest" trends.  Trust your instincts.  You need to be comfortable, happy and functional.  These are just SUGGESTIONS...not law:)
XOXO
Suzanne

Cute Stuff from Storenvy. . . .

do you like to shop online?

i have to confess. . . . .i do from time to time.

Amazon is a favorite stop of mine,

and i love finding unique handmade things on etsy.

and now, there is storenvy.

i don't know quite what the site is all about but

i think it's like etsy, where you open your own little shop,

but the items don't have to be handmade.

anyway, i thought i'd show you a few cool things i saw while 

browsing the shops.

oh gosh, where do i start?

 how about those keyboard protectors. . .

from 1point99.com

some seriously cute stuf, don't ya think?

storenvy shop info. . . .

Rainbow Color Keybaord Pr...  1Point99.com $3.99 

       Heart Bracelet    My Lavender Milk $1.00

Grey Loose Casual T-shirt... Whitelily Fashion $18.00

Vintage Style Buckle Flap... Reiji $19.00

Lovely Pearls & Lace iPho... 1Point99.com $5.09

Denim stone washed and to... Socishop $15.99

 Retro Lolita Skater Skirt... Chicnova $28.80

 Handwarmers - Custom  A Stitch in Time $15.00

 Lace Boho Tank Lucky Seven Shop $14.99

Boho Fringe Messenger Pur... Lucky Seven Shop $17.99

Be Awesome Today 8x10 Print  LuciusArt $18.00

Heart Necklace in Gold, S...  P.S. I Love You More... $13.50

Cute Dog,puppy Necklace  Flowerdays $12.00

Delicate Miniature Heart ...  GlamPuss $10.70

 magic mirror necklace.  FemmeZecret $18.00

Lacey Top in White  DoubleLW $19.00

 Cute Simple Whale Animal ...  Dotoly $10.00

 love ring  Rooted $41.00

happy shopping!

xoxo

Suzanne

a little bit of lace, a little bit of denim. . . .

hey, hey, hey. . . .i'm back!

what???

you didn't know i was gone? 

no worries. . . .

half the time i don't even know what's going on:)

it's a busy time of year, you know?

but i have been thinking, and saving up stuff to share with y'all.

so if i'm more scattered/random than usual,

please understand, okay?

gosh, where to start. . .

i'm the furthest thing possible from a fashion expert.

i just know what i like.

and what i am really liking these days,

(actually, for awhile now)

is lace.

especially lace mixed with denim or other fabrics.

you know that opposites attract, right?

take a look at this picture. . . .

pointe shoes and cowboy boots.

total opposites!

yet because they are so drastically different,

showing them together enables them both to shine.

just like mixing a sweet, innocent, delicate ivory lace dress with boots. . . .

classic opposites.

and awesome, if you ask me!

that's how i feel about denim and lace

i love this look!

and it's so easy to do by adding a bit of lace or a lacy doilie to a 

pair of shorts, a shirt or even a bag!

there are many ways to create these looks,

but the simplest would be to use a washable fabric glue to attach.

and you don't have to stop at lace.

gather jewels or buttons, 

cut off the backs with clippers to enable them to lay flat.

using fabric glue, attach them to your denim,

like this cute shirt. . . .

the jackets are really amazing, too.

it looks as if the collar was cut out and lace applied.  

the lace peeking out of the sleeve and at the bottom of the top left jacket is

super cute!

look at these backpacks. . . .

~adorable~

but maybe the piece i am the most crazy about is the denim and lace cuff. . .

LOVE. it!

lace clothing and/or accessories are all by themselves are another favorite.

see anything here you like?

i love it all, but especially the lace skirt, shorts, sundress, caftan and phone cover.

and everything else, too!:)

lastly,

i leave you with this. . . .

Jeremiah 29: 11-14. . . .

my very favorite.

be blessed, my friends!

xoxoxo

Suzanne