Sunshine in the Emerald City

It's supposed to be sunny and gorgeous all week here in the Seattle area. I can't get enough of this place. It helps that our yard backs to a huge forest with a stream running through it. Here's my outfit for the day.

Dress, shoes, leggings, and necklace from Forever 21-Shrug gifted from Stepmom-Purse from Old Navy circa 2002-ring gifted from friend.

♥Emily

Paint Colors

So,

We've finally moved into our beautiful home outside Seattle! We have a few projects to do, including getting rid of some tacky '80s brass light fixtures and some popcorn ceilings. We'll also be painting the walls, since they're all white, and I love color!

I always find it's hard to know what colors will look like in a room. Even if you get a paint sample, it's hard to judge how it would look in the entire room, instead of just a patch on the wall.

Enter: Valspar.

If you go to valsparpaint.com, you can click on a link that lets you upload pictures of your room, and then see what they look like with the paint colors on them. One of the neat features is that you can change the lighting in the room from dim to bright, natural, or artificial, so you can see what the room looks like in different lighting. Here are a few rooms in my house that I tried some pretty paint colors on:

Kitchen:Current

 A cheerful yellow called "Homestead Resort Tea Room Cream"

Warm terra cotta tones in "Home Sweet Home" and "Vintage Coral"

Earthy Neutrals in Subtle Suede and Resort Peach

My Voice Studio: Current

A beautiful rose color in "Brazilian Blush"

A dusty purple in "Purple Plumage"

Pretty cool, huh? If you have any paint projects coming up soon, I urge you to check it out at valsparpaint.com. It's wildly entertaining!

So what do you think about the paint colors? Which is your favorite?

♥Emily

Padgett Hoke

So, as I was blog-hopping one day, I happened across a blog by a young lady named Padgett Hoke. It just so happens that I went to school with a girl named Padgett Hoke in Jackson Hole, WY. I thought to myself, "How many Padgett Hokes can there be?"

Low and behold, it was the same girl! I love how small the world is. I can hop from one blog to the next, from Portland to California to New York, and end up finding someone from my high school.

The coolest part? Padgett sells beautiful handmade jewelry on one of my favorite sites, Etsy. (If you haven't heard of it before, it is a website where people can sell their own handmade goods, vintage items, or crafting supplies. It is extremely addicting, and you can spend hours surfing from shop to shop).

Padgett's jewelry is is extremely fresh and cheerful. The delicate designs are bright and simple, and what I love most is that they have just enough detail to make them unique, without being over-done or gaudy.

I especially have my eye on these pearl and crystal drop earrings above, and the gold framed amethyst necklace below.

Are you absolutely in love? I know, me too! Here's the best part; for the month of August, Padgett is having a promotion. Type in the code "AUGUSTRUSH" at check out, and you'll get a hefty 30% off your order! Considering that her items are already budget-friendly, this is a deal you should not pass up. So check out Padgett's lovely etsy store and blog today!

♥Emily

Spendy, Friendly, Trendy - Maxi Skirts

I'm starting a new type of post that I'll do every now and again, called Spendy, Friendly, Trendy. The idea is, I'll do a post about a piece of clothing with three options: One on the more expensive side, one that is classic but more budget friendly, and one that is trendy and won't brake the bank.
I believe that a maxi skirt is a great way to transition seamlessly from summer into fall. It goes just as well with a tank and sandals as it does with boots or heels and a slouchy sweater. That being said, it's important to choose a skirt in a color that works for both summer and fall. For example, a pastel yellow skirt may be more difficult to wear in the fall than a darker, richer color. Leave tropical patterns for the summer, but some florals can work year round. Here are my picks for some great maxi skirts to add to your wardrobe this year.


♥Emily

To Hold You Over

So, I've been slacking on my blogging lately with the move to Seattle. I've been staying on the beautiful Mercer Island, and I've been very distracted with new things to see and do. Anyway, today was one of those days that I desperately needed chocolate (I'm sure you understand), so I went to the local grocery. I came back with one of the cutest, most scrumptious desserts I've ever had.

It's a coffee cup made out of chocolate, filled with coffee flavored mousse. It has cocoa powder on top, and little coffee bean shaped chocolates. How cute is that? It totally made my day. What makes you happy when you're having a rough time?

Sorry to be holding out on you all-I'll do a makeup review shortly!

♥Emily