FASHION || IDLEWILD JEWELRY VINTAGE REDESIGNS

May 6, 2019May 7, 2019Leave a comment

I love finding local gems to share with you guys, and today is no exception! Tabitha Frazier of Hoover, Alabama, started Idlewild Jewelry Co to create one-of-a-kind necklaces from vintage baubles. With each piece being hand-crafted, no two necklaces are alike!

My piece is called the “Judith,” and it is a combination of a 1940’s buckle and a 1970’s chain. Her artistic eye is undeniable!

I am all about sentimentality. Items passed down through generations are so special! With her excellent craftsmanship, she can even take a personal heirloom and redesign it into a current necklace to wear and enjoy. This is so cool, because most jewelers don’t do this type of work. A niche cottage business, like Idlewild Jewelry Co, is the best way to repurpose cherished pieces.

You are probably wondering what idlewild means and why she chose this as her company’s name. Idlewild was coined in 1854 by an American poet who wanted to buy a certain piece of land. The land owner called it “idlewild” because this land was basically good for nothing- overgrown and in bad shape. The poet bought it and turned it into a beautiful homestead. Like the poet, Tabitha takes people’s old things and brings new life to them! As another twist of fate would have it, Tabitha and her husband’s first home was on Idlewild Circle near the UAB campus in Birmingham, Alabama. They were married in 1997 and lived at that address for five and a half years while they started their family. Call it coincidence or fate, but the name was meant to be.

You can visit her online store at idlewildjewelryco.net!

| dress | shoes |

FASHION || LITTLE BLACK DRESSES

January 14, 20191 Comment

Every gal needs a LBD (Little Black Dress) in her closet. From date nights to bachelorette parties, it’s the go-to staple piece of every woman’s wardrobe.

I’ve selected some of my favorite LBD’s for you to shop! Kind of like a cheat sheet to save you some time searching stores and websites. Just click on the dress you like below to shop!

FASHION || UGLY CHRISTMAS SWEATERS

December 17, 2018December 17, 2018Leave a comment

You’ve got this in the bag.. and not just Santa’s bag! Here is a guide to WINNING your ugly Christmas sweater party!

Get ready for this year’s festivities or get them on sale for next year’s gatherings.. Either way, you and your man will be the highlight of the party in these tacky get-ups!

Just click the images below to shop!

FASHION || NEW YEAR NEW CLOTHES

December 5, 2018December 5, 2018Leave a comment

New Year. New You… in sparkles!

We all enter into each new year in hopes of starting fresh with resolutions to help better our lives. The best way to achieve these goals is through confidence and motivation. Here are some NYE clothes to help you look and feel your best as you begin 2019!

Dressing up? Get glam with these dresses and rompers! Click on your favorites below to shop.

Staying in with friends and family? Here are some more casual ways to watch the ball drop! Click on your favorites below to shop.

FASHION || CLOSET READY HALLOWEEN COSTUMES

October 3, 20181 Comment

Halloween is one of my FAVORITE holidays! I love getting to dress up and be someone or something different for a night. What I don’t love is spending a bunch of money on a costume that I’ll never wear again. If I’m going to spend money on a piece of clothing, I want to be able to keep it in my closet and wear it next week to dinner. Back in college, I would go to three Halloween parties a year. I developed the skill of rummaging through my closet and finding something I already owned to turn into a costume!

Most closets don’t come costume ready, so I’d like give you some inspiration! Individually, each item below is something you will wear in your every day life, but styled together, they transform into a costume contest winner!

Just click on the costume you like and it will pull up each individual item for you to shop!

ROBBER || Mask and bag not included, BUT your “stolen swag bag” can double as your purse for the night!

OSCAR AWARD || Yaaasss Queen! All that glitters IS gold.

WHERE’S WALDO || Pro Tip: Photo bomb everyone’s picture during the night. They will “find Waldo” as they flip through their photos the next day!

FLAMINGO || Be sure to stand on one foot when you take pics!

MIME || Don’t mime if I do!

FASHION || A BRIDE’S “WHITE DRESS CHEAT SHEET”

September 21, 2018September 21, 2018Leave a comment

Calling all brides and almost engaged gals!

I know first hand that a bride has enough on her plate. There is so much to plan with a long to-do list to check off. Well, finding white dresses for your showers, teas or even rehearsal dinner just got a whole lot easier!

Here is a “White Dress Cheat Sheet” with lots of options to pick from. I found serval different styles and price ranges that I know you’ll love.

Just click on the dresses you would like to shop!

ENTERTAINMENT || BARONS’ BASEBALL

July 27, 2018July 27, 20181 Comment

Let’s Play Ball! Or.. at least watch it!

Birmingham enjoys joining in on America’s favorite pastime during the spring and summer. Our minor league team, known as the Birmingham Barons, built a brand new stadium in 2013 called Regions Park. Going to a game is perfect for a casual date night, hanging out with friends or a family affair. Tickets range in price, but General Admission is only $7. With General Admission, you can stand at tables above the seats or chill out in the grass/bleachers by the outfield. They have several different kitchens each with a variety of food choices, so the eatin’ is good! One of my favorites is the Buffalo Chicken Nachos that come in a souvenir batting helmet.

What makes this stadium unique is its proximity to Children’s Hospital (which is just behind the outfield). Not only can the children and their families watch the games from their room, but every Friday night Regions Park shoots off fireworks! What a great escape it must be for the kiddos to have a front row seat to the firework show! Melts my heart every time.

Be sure to check out their website before you go to see the different theme nights or events that happen at each game!

| shop the look|

LIFESTYLE || GREEN THUMB WITH IMPATIENS

July 16, 2018July 16, 20181 Comment

If you are anything like me, keeping plants alive is hard. I never had an interest in plants growing up, so as an adult who owns a house, I have been forced to learn.

Luckily, I am here to tell you, it’s not that bad! It’s actually kind of rewarding and gives a sense of accomplishment!

So if you want to keep a plant alive, here are a few tips and info about where to start.

HABIT: Everyone says to get a succulent because you don’t have to water them frequently. Well, I’ve killed almost every succulent I’ve owned living in Alabama. The plants that are easy to maintain for me are ones that you water everyday. That way, you can make it a part of your morning routine, and you don’t have to keep up with how many days or weeks it has been since you fed your plant.
CHOICE: The best plants for this are Impatiens (pronounced like “impatience” because ain’t that relatable), Basil, Vinca Vine, and my most recent discovery Geranium. Today I’m going to focus on Impatiens because they are a great plant to start out with and learn from!
CARE: These guys LOVE water and sun. If you forget to water them, they TELL you because let’s face it, they are impatient. When you see them being all dramatic and wilting away, you immediately run to get some water. This helped me get in that daily watering routine. It only takes them a day or two to perk back up to blooming beauties! Another great thing about Impatiens, they come in several different colored blooms. Last year, I got white blooms for a classic clean look. This year, I got bright orange because I thought a pop of color would be fun.

When I forget to water them VS when I remember to water them
DISPLAY: I set my little flower boxes on my front porch. Everyone can see them, plus they can get several hours of sun light each day.
COST: You should be able to get them at almost any flowering gardening store. They are a very popular choice, so retailers are going to be selling them. Plus, they are inexpensive! You can typically get about 6 for $10!

Happy planting!

EVENT || THE MARKET AT PEPPER PLACE

May 11, 2018Leave a comment

If you are in Birmingham over a weekend, the Market at Pepper Place is a really cool event to attend! Every Saturday morning from 7am to 12pm, it connects small family farmers and local businesses to the people of Birmingham.

Tents and booths are set up all over Pepper Place for you to browse and shop. Live music and the smell of fresh flowers fill the streets. The vendor’s products range from art, fresh foods, accessories, cooked foods, fresh flowers, ice cream, clothing, etc.

A few of my favorite goodies to pick up include: pimento cheese, salsa, honey, peaches and jewelry. Of course I go for the food and fashion! Click HERE for a full vendor list of each weekend.

Tips:

bring a bag for your market goodies
bring cash because not everyone has a card reader (although there are ATMs available)
wear comfy shoes
they have FREE public wifi
put an umbrella in your car in case it rains

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In the spirit of local, my clothing items are from local companies.
shirt | bottoms| hat
| shoes and jewelry details here|

FASHION || BACK TO THE BASICS

March 25, 2018Leave a comment

Friends,

I am here to tell you about an awesome clothing company called basic. I recently met the owner, who is so sweet and passionate. All of the designers she carries produce ethically made clothes, and some of the designers are even from Alabama. I love supporting local talent and fellow girl bosses!

“Neutral clothing for colorful personalities” is my favorite way to describe basic’s vibe! Every item of clothing is a perfect staple piece for your wardrobe. I’ll show you a few of my favorites that you can shop online or in store!

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I was immediately drawn to this top because of the color. Turns out, the designer grew up down the street from a blue painted house. She loved it so much, she matched the paint color to create this top. What a cool, personal touch to add to a design!

The wide legged trousers have such a classic look. Not to mention, they are high waisted AND have pockets! Please and thank you.

| blue top is in store only, so I attached two other color options |
top in olive | top in white | trousers