Shine Home Love + House Changes!

Remember how I have mentioned some changes taking place in our home? Well, I am finally filling y'all in on the details! Let's start from the beginning. Stephen and I have toyed with the idea of making some bigger renovation changes to better our home. The two big areas of interest are the kitchen and closing in the exterior carport {it's actually a pretty carport but that is the only way I can describe it!} Of course, the full gut job on the kitchen is self explanatory, but we also feel like we need more storage {it is an old house and that's a given} and we need to use our space better. One upgrade already was our living room bookcases...hey, every bit counts! I plan on using those for extra dishes, glasses and seasonal platters that do not fit in our dining room cabinet or kitchen. 

The next idea to better utilize our space was to swap our den with our dining room. I am so happy with the change and it feels like the right layout for us and our home. But, you have to head over to Lisa's blog Shine Your Light to hear more and see a sneak peek of the new "keeping room"! I am joining her today on her series Shine Home Love and I am just thrilled to be there. Having only read her blog, exchanged emails and had social media interactions, I can tell you this woman is incredibly talented and one of the most heartwarming and genuine people you will encounter in this "blogging world!" So please go check out my feature and Shine Your Light, you won't be disappointed! 

Where You Can Find Me

You're looking at the very first photo of yours truly, with her now husband {pictured on the far right}. That's him with his arm around my best friend- the night she introduced us! The story of how we met is pretty funny to me. It was Halloween and a couple friends and I dressed up and went to our very favorite bar. Once my girl friend Seldon {pictured above} and I got there, we began taking as many fun pictures as possible with everyone in costumes at the bar. These two Nascar guys were the very first ones. I thought I had grabbed simply the best dressed guys in the bar, but it turns out they were actual friends of Seldon! The next day, that guy on the right added me as a friend on facebook. I commented to Seldon that the "random Nascar guy" had added me as a friend and she told me that she in fact, knew him really well and that he was a great friend- one that I had always heard about. How I missed that, I do not know. Must have been my cat ear headband. After that we began to hang out all the time. The rest they say, is history.

I know you love our cat woman-Nascar-britney spears photo! Seriously, what was I thinking with that face? I mean, seriously. haha. This was absolutely shown at our rehearsal dinner slideshow and our friend Alan {also pictured above next to me} notoriously signed our guest book 8  > 24, as seen on his t-shirt.

For more details on our l-o-v-e, head on over to my guest post at A. Liz Adventures! Thanks for having me be a part of your series in honor of your anniversary April! 

Guest Post: Kate from Daffodil's

Happy Friday everyone! I have another awesome Momma guest posting today about her life with her ridiculously cute family of four- soon to be five! I was particularly interested in Kate posting since she is a Momma to boys, and they always, always seem to have the most fun. I was so refreshed after reading this post after a long day. Yes, there are long days with a newborn even though they are the cutest things in the entire world :) Kate blogs at Daffodils and you must stop by and tell her and that sweet family of hers hello!

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Hi Everyone! My name is Kate and you can find me blogging over at Daffodil's about life with my handsome husband and two and a half sons (#3 is coming in August!).

I am so happy to be here because it means that Katie is home relaxing and soaking up every precious new moment with sweet Baby Weeks.
 Congrats Katie and Steven!

When Katie and I emailed about doing a guest post, she threw out the topics of exercise, date nights and life with boys for me to write about, and I am happy to say that I am an expert on 2/3. I wish I could give you some good advice on exercise but mainly it goes like this: play with baby, eat whatever people bring you, drink wine after baby goes to bed. And I don't think that is entirely helpful (although way more fun than the gym), so I will move on to what I know.

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How to Keep Up Date Nights

Admittedly, things get different with baby around, especially if family isn't close. After the birth of our first son, Cullen, Kev and I tried to go out to dinner once every few months, using a high school aged sitter who came over after C was in bed, so she really didn't do anything. We also took advantage of my mom being 5 hours away and went out on our own anytime she came down to visit. 

We moved to California after our second son, Bennett, was born, and date night became a little more complicated. We didn't know anyone or have connections to a trusty sitter, and the rate for watching two kids was often more than dinner cost, so it really didn't seem worth it. But we also didn't want to be caught in a rut where it was all work and kids and no time for us as a couple, so we started Friday night indoor dates. After we put the boys to bed, we have a no-tv, no-phones, no-computer rule and we sit in our living room, put on some music, make appetizers and cocktails and sit and talk for a few hours. Especially in the beginning of our move, we both found this time to be refreshing and re-energizing for our relationship.

Another big tip: don't be afraid to spend the night away. Whenever we do travel home (to DC), we always leave the boys with my mom for a night, even to go to dinner and stay at a hotel down the street.
Totally worth it. 

Remember that your children learn how to love from their parents, so having a healthy and strong relationship  is vital!

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Life with Boys

Boys are crazy, and wild, and rough, and o-so-sweet.

My boys jump off furniture, play in the mud and crash their cars on purpose. I'll never forget saying as a new parent that my boys 'will never....' but it turns out 'my boys definitely...' and that is okay.

Embrace the crazy: let him make mud puddles (or water their his brother),

don't make him wear shirts (or pants) all the time, make sure he makes a landing pad before he starts launching themselves into the air.

But 'boy' is not an excuse for bad behavior. Teach him to sit at a restaurant, go to church, hang out at a winery without breaking things (yes, we take our boys all the time) and set the table. Bake with him, color, do puzzles, play house with stuffed animals.

Shower him with love and affection. 

Boys love their Mommas. Cullen tells me all the time that I am the prettiest lady he knows. Bennett climbs on my lap and holds my hand for no reason. They are both nurturing and concerned about the baby in my belly.

Life with boys is an adventure and I love every second of it. 

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Congrats again to Katie on Weeks- we can't wait to watch him grow!

Thanks so much for having me and be sure to pop over to Daffodils and say hello.

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Thank you so much again Kate! Make sure to show her some love and have a fabulous weekend!
xoxo.

Guest Post: Natasha from Schue Love

While I slowly adjust to my new lifestyle with a babe at home, I have some lovely ladies to bring you posts on a little bit of everything. First up, one of my favorite blogs that I referred to many a times throughout my pregnancy for tips, and now I find myself searching for baby advice too. Her recipes are so awesome and I love her fashion finds too. If you haven't seen her adorable baby Ethan, you are missing out too! He is such a cutie, I can't even handle it!
Without further adieu, please welcome Natasha from Schue Love!

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Hello!  I'm Natasha from Schue Love...a lifestyle blog that touches on all things fashion, decor, food and more...the more being my 8 month old son Ethan!  

Before I start this post, I have to give Katie a HUGE congratulations on her beautiful new baby boy Weeks.  Isn't he adorable?!  

Seeing how little and sweet he is reminds me of those early stages and how wonderful and yet overwhelming everything is all of a sudden.  I remember the weeks leading up to Ethan's birth and how ready and anxious I was to meet him!  I was nesting like crazy and had prepared for him as much as possible...I was ready to leave our life behind as a family of two and start our family of three!

Now that we've lived as a family of three for almost nine months...I have a little perspective.  Life is so much fuller now...but let's be honest, it's a whole lot more complicated!

Before baby, I could get a pedicure, catch a movie, or sleep in until noon.

Now, it's all about coordinating a babysitter if I want to escape and sleep...what's that?!  ;)

Before baby, we would take a short weekend trip to visit friends.

Now, we have friends come to visit us...it's so much easier with baby!

Before baby, I wouldn't think twice about what I wore...neckline, material, you name it.

Now, my only concern is how easy it is to nurse in!

Before baby, I would lunch with friends.

Now, we get together for walks...I call it the stroller brigade!

Before baby, traveling was a breeze.

Now, we have to coordinate the pack 'n play, stroller, carseat, diapers, bottles, toys...you get the picture!

Before baby, bodily functions grossed me out.

Now, pee, poop, spitup, vomit, you name it...it all seems so normal.

Before baby, I used to buy fun clothes for myself.

Now, all I want to do is shop for baby!

Before baby, the holidays we about following family tradition.

Now, they are SO much more fun as we develop new traditions with Ethan.

Before baby, life was so "easy".

Now, life is so worth it.

And last, before baby, I thought I knew what love was all about.

And now, I have a deeper love for this little being than I could ever imagine.  He is truly the light of our lives and I can't imagine life without him.

{photography via artyard}

Thanks to Katie for having me today!!

xo natasha

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Thank you so much Natasha! You have highlighted a whole new list of things for me to look forward to. Hope y'all had a fabulous weekend.
xoxo.

Happy Birthday Hubby + Guest Post

Happy Birthday to my sweet, handsome and precious husband!! To a man that patiently loves me, and loves our sweet doggies to the moon and back...you deserve the best day today! I can't wait to celebrate today, and many more birthdays and wonderful moments with you. I love you!

And now for the guest post...today you can find me over at the adorable Simply Sarah sharing some of my summer faves! {Think drinks and beauty products} I had a blast putting it together so I hope you will check it out! Thanks for having me Sarah!

I've got some last minute birthday details to work on... y'all have a fabulous Thursday! xo.

Guest Post at A Charmed Life

Happy Weekend lovebugs! Head over to Jill's adorable blog today to see my post on summer serving sensations, just in time for the weekend! I hope it leaves you inspired for having a fabulous happy hour. Any exciting plans for anyone? Would love to hear. Hope y'all have a great one!!

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Swimsuit + Guest Post

I had several questions about the bathing suit I posted about last week, and I figured today would be a good time to tie in with my guest post! I found this Leilani suit at a local shop, but you can search for one near you online here. {Mine is the Bali pattern}. The best part about this suit is the fabric- it's so soft and comfortable and I plan on mixing and matching with a white top I have has well.

Today you can find me guest posting for Ashley, or better known as styleash!  Ashley asked me to fill in with a post while she lives it up in Mexico and of course, I was thrilled. I hope she is having the best time soaking up that sunshine and drinking a few margaritas for us all! Head on over to see what I pack in my carry on bag when I head out on a vacay like I did last week. And please, let me know if I forgot anything- I would hate to think I missed out on any travel tips! I know there are lots of you that travel way more than me :)

Thank you so much for your sweet comments yesterday on our trip-stay tuned for part 2!

Have a fabulous Thursday! xo.

Guest Post: Sarah from Simply Sarah

hey there Miss Dixie readers!

I'm Sarah and I blog over at simply sarah.

I have the most adorable pup, 

Toby Jack (I may be a bit biased)

and I love me some margaritas

I was thrilled when Katie asked me to guest post for her while her little booty was on vacay!

She is one of the sweetest girls I've met and her blog is definitely one of my daily reads.

While she's soaking up some sun in the Bahamas, I figured I'd share some of my fitness goals and inspiration with y'all.

I'm currently in the first week of what I am calling 'bikini bootcamp.'
In just under a month, I have to fit my not-so-little booty into a bikini.
Yikes!!
Fear itself is what is motivating me to get my workout on.

First thing I did was create a plan.

It's not a super hard plan....but it does require me to be more disciplined.
I already workout on a regular basis but I'm adding sprints into my routine to help shed the pounds faster. I'm also cutting out some of my favorite foods we'll see how long that lasts.

I found this awesome site the other day while on Pinterest.
42 Ways to Lose Stomach Fat Fast

uhhh, sign me up!!
I love this site because it's actually realistic steps that you can take instead of crash dieting and taking pills. Trust me, I've tried those. I've incorporated 5-7 of these steps into my week 1 plan and then I'll add some new ones next week.

My 5 steps this week-

* Drink lots of water - I do this all day at work anyway so it's not a big change
* Cut out fast food/soda/sweets - I don't really eat a lot of fast food but I eat mexican a lot! And fro yo....and sweet tea. So that stuff has got to go if I wanna get in bikini shape in a month.

I eat fro yo like a 5 year old....so what?!

* Don't starve- I'm famous for not eating during the day and then binging at night. I learned on day 1 that I have to eat during the day or I won't have enough energy to get my workout on
* Drink a full glass of water before meals - this actually does work to make you less hungry.

* Give yourself 20 minutes to feel full after meals


Easy enough :)
So now it's your turn to share what you've done to get bikini ready.
I need some more tips!!

Thanks for having me!!
I hope you'll stop by and say hi :)
xoxo.

Guest Post: Pam from Simple Details

Hi there, I'm Pam from Simple Details,
  I was thrilled when the adorable Katie, one of my favorite bloggers, invited me over to
 share a Friday find with you today. 

Actually, this is probably the easiest find ever,  right out of your very own closet...

a simple white t-shirt! 

Here are some ideas to take your t-shirt from basic to classic!

Paired with flowing wide leg pants.

Elin Kling
A bright maxi and blazer and it's a work ensemble.

seejaneworkplaylive.blogspot.com

Gold chains, a jacket with fabulous detailed buttons and your jeans!
(Anyone else thinking about a trip to the fabric store for some amazing buttons to jazz up a jacket) 

indulgy.com

Roll up your sleeves and toss on a light gauzy scarf.

luxe-shop.com
The always classic navy blazer and white t shirt.

sequinsandstripes.com
A light summer scarf with fun details.

everythingfab.tumblr.com
A bold necklace makes quite the statement!

pinterest (sorry, unable to locate source)
A crisp white blazer, dress it up or down!
This look would be so cute with shorts!

jseverydayfashion.com

Whatever your style I hope you're inspired to give some new life to a basic t!

Have a wonderful weekend everyone and Katie,  I hope you're
enjoying that fabulous resort, and your time away, sweet friend!

Guest Post: April of A. Liz Adventures

Hi ya'll, and a huge thanks to Katie for inviting me to guest post while she is on vacation! I'm April and I blog at A. Liz Adventures, where I write about everything from newlywed life to recipes to DIY ideas ... and other fun tidbits in between.

Living in Charlotte is pretty dang wonderful, if I do say so myself.  There is never a shortage of fun, interesting, and exciting adventures to explore.  If you've never been to our "Queen City," let me give you a little tour of the place I am so proud to call home. 

Charlotte is right above the border of South Carolina, where I grew up and went to college.  The location is wonderful -- just over one hour from my parents, two hours from the mountains, three hours from the beach! 

Here's a glimpse at my "perfect Charlotte day."

When it's warm out, there's nothing that I like to do more than start out the day at the farmer's market.  Fresh flowers galore, homemade jams and pickles, and produce that will make your heart sing.  No need to get gussied up -- just throw on a baseball cap and a little lip gloss, and you're good to go.

After the farmers market, I'll come home to arrange the flowers and then sneak in a little trip to the gym or a walk around the block with our dog, Drake.

What do you know, it's time to get ready for brunch with girlfriends at Pewter Rose!  Of course, I'll have the quiche with the fresh fruit and a pomegranate mimosa.

After brunch, we'll head over to Phillips Place where we can visit a few boutiques, walk into a nice jewelry store to gaze longingly at the sparkling jewels, and then maybe grab some Pinkberry or a glass of bubbly at Dean and Deluca.

As much as I love the eye candy at boutiques, we'll then head to my FAVORITE shopping spot in Charlotte -- Sleepy Poet Antique Mall!  Don't let the picture below fool you -- it's not tiny.  It is 55,000 square feet of antique treasures.

If it's a Sunday in June, you can most definitely catch me at Pops In The Park.  The Charlotte Symphony plays themed music into the evening hours as you listen from your quilt and picnic set-up.

Sounds like a pretty fun day to me!

Another great thing about Charlotte is the proximity to lakes.  If you venture slightly north of the city, you'll arrive at Lake Norman.  This pretty lake will always guarantee you a good time, and maybe even a few sightings of a Nascar driver's home.

You can probably see why I'm so wild about this city.  Never a dull moment, and what I've shown is just the tip of the iceberg! 

Thanks, Katie, for letting me brag on Charlotte for a bit.  I hope ya'll will visit me at A. Liz Adventures soon!

Guest Post at A. Liz Adventures

Hey friends! So happy it's already Thursday, aren't you? I am so excited today because I am posting at one of my favorite blogs, A. Liz Adventures. You might have seen her on my sidebar, or chances are, you might follow her already. This gal is right up my alley- she's a newlywed, loves fun, wine and shopping, and even designs her own jewelry for her shop {to name a few!}

Here's a little sneak peek of what you will find in my post over at A. Liz Adventures...
it involves the essentials for days like these!

PS- I was told last night I am officially a full fledged resident of this county {for those of you new, I moved to the beach a few years ago before we got married} because I adapted a popular saying "blowing a gale"...a term for a windy day that is common around here. I sort of felt like a child who said their first bad word, unknowingly spoken only because they were simply repeating something they had heard many a times! It slipped and I didn't even think twice. So yes, you can count on me for these genuine tips coming from the beach girl. Head on over and show it some love!
 Hope you ladies have a fab day! xoxo. 

Guest Post: Design Shuffle

Good morning friends! I have an extra special treat for you this Monday morning from Design Shuffle. I was delighted when they contacted me and I think you will love this post on bath inspiration! Enjoy!

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Hello, everyone! It's Mari from Design Shuffle, a great social networking site for interior designers, design professionals and enthusiasts. With thousands of photos to look through each day, this website is your one-stop shop for decorating ideas! 

 Today's guest post here at Miss Dixie was definitely a must. She has a gorgeous sense of design and I got carried away while exploring her blog. You could spend hours here! So I knew I had to ask Katie if I could contribute to her blog. Today we're taking a look at interior inspiration for the bath. Don't we all dream of our very own perfect bathroom? Whether we love contemporary, traditional, eclectic or romantic rooms, there's a bath that speaks to our personal style. We hope you enjoy the eight bathroom designs we've brought to share with you.  

 A lovely traditional bath is given a bit of glamour in the long gauzy curtain and feminine chandelier. I love the antiqued mirror tiles that cover the wall.

 

A rustic wood beam and dark color on the claw foot tub are a little unexpected in this light-filled country bath, but they do present a lovely contrast. The wall to wall windows can be left open or easily covered for privacy at bath†time by wood blinds and pretty patterned draperies.  

 If you're on the hunt for contemporary bathroom designs, this one would make a beautiful addition to your inspiration file. I love how the vessel sinks mimic the form of the lovely free-standing tub.  

 This traditional bath gets a touch of romantic contemporary in the wide blue and white striped curvy consoleóa perfect contrast to the ornately traditional feel of the rest of the space.  

 Going in a totally different direction, this soft yellow bathroom is filled with feminine appeal. It reminds me of yummy lemon chiffon pie.

   

 Who knew how great a glam silver tub could look in a calm and soothing Zen-inspired bath? It's the perfect spot for reading and relaxing.

   

 This retreat-like bath is overflowing with beautiful details and interior design ideas: soaking tub, lovely fireplace, massive mirror, glowing chandelier, Marilyn Monroe portrait and more.

   

 And lastly, haven't we all dreamed at one time or another of an outdoor tub? Elle Decor tells us this open-air bath decorated with ginger plants and antique farm implements is in Bali. Take me away!

 Images 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 

 There's a bathroom for every style! Find more great bathroom inspiration at Design Shuffle. You'll be able to connect with top Boston interior designers, Chicago interior designers and many others!

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I, for one, am really smitten with the yellow bath and that glam silver tub...so dreamy!
I also spent some time on Design Shuffle this weekend browsing their design gallery on dining rooms and I loved their blog post on what your wall art says about you, check it out here.

Thanks again Mari!
xoxo