goodbye

As much as I hate to say this, the time has come for me to stop blogging on olive & a so that I can focus on my family and school. It has been a decision I knew I had to make but have been putting it off for a while. I've finally come to terms with it but it still makes me sad. I love blogging as it has allowed me to learn more about myself, feel inspired, and "meet" new people. I hope to be able to blog here again in the future.

I really just want to thank you sweet readers for reading. It's been two and a half years since I started olive & a and I've loved getting to know my readers over that time. I truly appreciate the comments you leave and your nice emails, they all make my day.

If you still want to keep in contact you can always email me, find me pinning away over on pinterest (email me if you want an invite to pinterest), and on facebook as I may post links to things I am loving, sort of like the mashups I do.

I wish you all the best and thanks for reading olive & a!

fresh

These spaces designed by Porchlight Interiors have such a fresh feeling to them.

I love the use of color through out, just enough to keep things interesting.

what i love most about my home

Ah sorry to just disappear last week. I had a school final that I had to study and stress over but it's over with so now I can breath again. How was your weekend? We finally had rain here and that in itself made my weekend. I don't think we've had a good solid rain storm since May.

A while back I shared a little teaser of a wood stained painting that I did using Nicole's tutorial. We finally hung it up yesterday on a tiny blank wall and I thought I'd share the result. I'll be honest, my writing is not straight nor perfect and at first I let that bother me but now that I've been staring at it I think I like it that way, gives it a little more character (at least that's what I keep telling myself).

 The quote is a spin off of the quote 'What I love most about my home is who I share it with' first seen here in this design*sponge sneak peek. I was going to do the original quote but knew I was going to run out of room so I had to change it up a bit. Now it's a little more me I guess. :) 

beside the bed

These two photos featuring pretty nightstands caught my eye recently. I really like seeing how people style these little intimate areas. Often times it seems that these little tables get forgotten when it comes to decor but they have the potential to play a big role in how the room looks and feels if styled.

Right now I'm trying to figure out what I want to do for the bedside tables in my room. I've been thinking of doing something with stacked art like this first photo but haven't found the right thing(s) to frame. Decisions, decisions, right? ;)

 

Source: kerrisdaledesign.com via Heather on Pinterest

Source: stylebyemilyhenderson.com via Heather on Pinterest

Tell me: What books are currently on your nightstand? I have a break in school semesters coming up and I want to read something just for the fun of it.

p.s. Thanks for your kind comments about my stripey skirt. :)

group discussion : plate walls

In my dining room I have two small walls that meet together (hope that makes sense) and I've been trying to figure out what I want to put on them. Plate walls are so pretty me thinks and has been something I've wanted to try in my home. Those two walls might be good contenders for something like the above. I especially love plate walls when they are more of an eclectic nature, with a good mix of prints, patterns and colors.

Are you a fan of plate walls? Have any of you ever tried this and what would be the best (and cheapest) way to hang the plates? I know you can get the metal spring type ones that wrap behind the plate but is that my only option? Please help a girl out! :)

this kitchen...

                             makes me all sorts of happy. I think it's all the bright colors and that tile backsplash.

p.s. I'm back-ish. I say that because there might be a chance my computer will die again. Sad.

{image via --> via}

Out of service

I planned to post a couple fun things this week but wouldn't you know it, my computer died. Since blogging from a phone isn't really fun, I thought I would send you over to one of my favorite blogs, Star Hughes Living. She just got back from an amazing trip through several countries that I'm incredibly jealous of. It's also her birthday so go wish her a happy one. See you soon.

pretty hanging things

For a while (and possibly still now) there was much excitment in blogland over hanging tissue pom poms used in party decor. I can certainly see the appeal, they are very pretty and fun. I've used them. :) Anyway...I was trolling through my pinterest boards and noticed a trend of using (other) pretty hanging things to pump up the party decor. I think my favorite is the one using ribbon (or are they crepe paper streamers?) paired with cafe string lights. So simple but very festive.

Source: marthastewartweddings.com via Heather on Pinterest

Source: thepleatedpoppy.com via Heather on Pinterest

Source: stylemepretty.com via Heather on Pinterest

Source: bumpsmitten.com via Heather on Pinterest

Source: bumpsmitten.com via Heather on Pinterest

Source: 8foot6.blogspot.com via Heather on Pinterest

Source: somewheresplendid.com via Heather on Pinterest

Source: jldesigns.blogspot.com via Heather on Pinterest

Are you a fan of this, shall I say, trend?

p.s. Need an invite to pinterest? Send me an email and i'll send an invite your way.

bruschetta with strawberries and tomatoes

I haven't known the awesomeness that is a grill until recently when my husband received one for Father's Day. We have been putting that thing to good use lately as any excuse to not heat the house is fine by me. I saw this recipe for bruschetta with strawberries and tomatoes and just had to make some the other night to go along with our steaks and corn on the cob. This 'oh so good' little appetizer is definitely going into our grilling repertoire. I really want some now...

 Ingredients

• 1/2 pint strawberries, hulled and quartered
• 1/2 pint mixed cherry tomatoes (red and yellow), quartered
• 3 tablespoons thinly sliced fresh basil
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for brushing bread
• salt
• freshly ground pepper
• 1 large baguette, cut on the diagonal into 1/2 inch thick slices

Make

• In a medium bowl, mix first five ingredients with 2 tbsp olive oil. Season with salt and pepper. Set aside.
• Place bread on a baking pan and brush with olive oil; flip and repeat. Heat grill to medium-high. Transfer bread to grill; grill until slightly charred, 1 to 2 minutes per side.
• Place grilled bread slices on a platter and top each with a heaping spoonful of the strawberry-tomato mix.

{image/recipe via country living}

on my mind...

I'm back! We're all moved. It's crazy hot here in TX (hello, 105!?!!). We have internet now. I missed blogging (and you of course)!

Since we've moved into a new space I've had decorating on the brain. I know what I want to do in some rooms and others I'm not so sure...one thing I do know is that I love this little corner of Jordan's San Fran apartment and can't get that grey and yellow combo out of my head. Oh and the horse picture, really liking the horse picture.

{image : aubrey trinnaman via oh happy day}

mashup + mini break

Hi and hello! Thanks for all your kind comments about my skirt. It's kinda scary (at least for me) to put yourself out there on the www so thanks for being nice. :) I did finish the other skirt that I've been working on and am super excited to share it with you. It's going to have to wait though because... our summer vacation is over and we are driving back to Texas after being in Utah for two month AND when we get home we have to move, quick! So...I'm going to put olive & a on it's own little vacation and resume blogging when life is a little less hectic (hopefully next week). However, I couldn't just leave you with nothing so here is a mashup to keep your fingers clicking. See you soon!

:: This lavender nursery is so sweet but chic. Caitlin can do no wrong when it comes to designing stylish rooms in my opinion.

:: Oh yum! Once my kitchen is in order (and it's not so hot!) I am going to make a batch of these soft frosted sugar cookies.

:: Lindsay has been working some magic with clay lately and shared this super simple diy for rose earrings. Love!

:: Laundry would be somewhat less of a chore if I had a laundry room like Elizabeth's newly re-done space.

:: Speaking of fashion bloggers (in my previous post), Bee is one of my current faves and has a way with clothes that is so bold and fresh.


{image Sara Bateman}

a skirt, but not THE skirt

So I won't pretend to be a fashion blogger but on Monday I posted a small peek at the skirt I made last weekend and had a couple people who wanted to see the finished skirt.  I've been in need of a black skirt for a while but haven't been able to find what I really wanted so I decided to make one following this tutorial. Have I mentioned that I love those thoughtful people around the blogosphere who share their skills with the rest of us via tutorials? Love!

 

Anyway...here it is. I hope you have a great weekend!

romantic summer tablescape

If you've read olive & a for a while it's most likely no secret that I wish I was skilled in the art of floral arranging and party planning. I've probably talked about it enough. ;) But since I'm not, I'll just have to admire those who've got themselves some skills. A good representation of said skills in my book would be this gorgeous tablescape styled by Elizabeth Anne Designs. I just can't get enough of the colorful flowers mixed with the airy table and room. It makes for such a pretty and romantic statement.

p.s. I love the lace table runner that was created using simple strips of 6″ lace stitched together on the straight side. So sweet.

If you are wanting to see more of this gorgeous shoot head here.

right now...

I'd love nothing more than to escape to a secluded cabana with a book and cold drink in hand. Read for a while, dip in the pool, then read some more, followed by another dip in the pool.

{images via Lonny}

my (insta)weekend

Hello! Happy Monday to you. I thought I'd share a couple snippets of my weekend with you through instagram. Kind of a fun app. Anyone else an instagram-er?

1.On Saturdays all summer my hometown has a gardner's market in a local park where people can sell produce, handmade items and food. It'd been a long time since I've been so we stopped by and picked up some yummy peas and a couple gorgeous flower bouquets. I love farmer's markets!

2. This little paint project has been on my list to do ever since I posted about it. I'm on the fence about whether I like it or not. I think I'll have to hang it up and live with it for a while and then decide if I like it or not.

3. I started a simple black skirt last weekend using this tutorial and finally finished it this weekend. It has been a while since I've sat at a sewing machine so I'm thinking it was a good precursor to my new sewing project.

in the works

I have a couple of projects that I'm working on right now. Here is a little math equation to show you one...

 a bit of this fabric (flipped so the stripe is horizontal)

+

and this tutorial as a guide

=

hopefully will equal something like this skirt that I loved so much!

I'd love to know what you are currently working on!

great idea : gallery wall layouts

Aren't these great guides for starting a gallery wall? Definitely handy!

Source: flickr.com via Heather on Pinterest

Source: flickr.com via Heather on Pinterest

Happy 4th of July

My sweet Dad, 1942

zip it

So I recently purchased one of Tori's super cute chevron zipper bags. It's cheerful. It makes me happy. It makes my makeup happy (okay, probably not but I'd like to think it does).

I dunno for sure, but a super cute printed zipper bag might make you (or your makeup) happy. :)

Have a great 4th of July weekend my friends!

designing for little ones

I mentioned a while back that we'll be moving into a new (to us) house soon. The kids will be sharing a bedroom in our new place and I've been trying to figure out how to make the space come together. My goal is to try and make the room clean and unfussy but still fun. If you're interested, I'll share how it (hopefully) comes together. 

One of these days, Landon will have his own dedicated space and I would love to do something similar to this room. It's youthful but not childish. That wood plank wall is pretty much awesome and I'm a big fan of the color scheme. I'll need to remember this for when that day does come.

modern kids design by san francisco interior designer Jute Interior Design

Speaking of my little guy, here he is swinging his heart out.  Hard to believe he's 7 months.