A Fine List of GIVEAWAYS!!

I run across incredible Giveaways everywhere! I thought it would be good to put a list together of current Giveaways I have stumbled across. It never hurts to win a free Christmas present!

Good Times Never Seem Sew Good Ends December 5th
Freckled Nest 13 Giveaways! Ends Soon!
YoungHouseLove End December 1st
Josiah's Nest Ends December 5th
Sandy a la Mode Ends December 1st
Keiko Lynn Ends December 2nd
Domestic, But Not Martha Ends December 1st
From the Briar Patch Ends December 1st
A Beautiful Mess Ends December 3rd
Gussy Sews Ends December 1st
Rockstar Diaries Ends December 3rd
Freckled Nests Ends in a few days

Know of a current Giveaway going on or have one yourself? Comment below and let me know! I will be sure to check it out and update this post with your Giveaway.

Inspiration for Your Nest: Sarah & Nicolas

This week's nest inspiration is brought to you by Design*Sponge. Their "sneak peek" features let us see fellow Creators' lovely little abodes. I present to you Sarah of Ma Mamie Hippie and Nicolas.

When I came across the sneak peek into their home, I just fell in love their their candy-like color tones and pure artsy-ness. I love that chalkboard in their kitchen and the vintage suitcase in her workroom!

Happy Nesting to all! 

Photo Credits: Design*Sponge

Giving Thanks Always

I am sitting here, in my living room, listening to Christmas music, and looking at our first tree lit up in the corner. I am so completely joyful and thankful, not only for this holiday season, but for my beautiful and precious family. I have loved this little vacation so much that I do not know how I am going to muster up the energy to put on my "corporate hat" and go back to work tomorrow!

As promised, I give you a little more of a glimpse into our first Thanksgiving and our adventures in visiting both sides of the family.

November 25, 2010: The night before, Jonathon helped me bake an Oreo cheesecake and make cracker candy to contribute to my parents Thanksgiving celebration. We headed on over to the Jones' household to celebrate Thanksgiving with my mom, dad, brother, sister, and family friend, Sonia.

Sometimes they can be a little difficult to take a picture of! We watched the Macy's Day Parade and I helped my Dad order Christmas presents for the family. We ate a wonderful Thanksgiving meal. Jon and I left around 3:45 to start our five hour drive to Mount Pleasant, SC.

November 26, 2010: We woke up early in Jon's Grandma's home and headed to Charleston to see the sites and eat some yummy sea food with Jon's mom, dad, sister, and her fiancee. 

Since we only had half the day to explore, we took a quick driving tour of the main historical places in Charleston, stopped by the wonderful Market, drove past the gorgeous homes on "Rainbow Row", bought Oreo fudge at the Charleston Candy shop, and ate amazing sea food. 

November 27, 2010: We ate at the infamous "Melvin's Bar-B-Que", Jon's dad's most favorite place to eat. Then, sadly, we headed back to the ATL.

Seriously, Melvin's had the best onion rings I have ever tasted in my life. So good! 

Since Jon and I started our ornament tradition after we got engaged (read about it here), we decided to make sure we bought ornaments whenever we went to special places. While shopping in the Market on Friday, we came across this precious little thing:

It is handmade and cut from a beautiful little piece of wood with "Charleston, South Carolina" inscribed on it. We just loved it and thought it would be a perfect addition to our little ornament collection. 

Three cheers for Charleston and Thanksgiving!

Doing the Charleston!

Seriously, it has been WAY too long. Jonathon and I got swept up in a whirlwind of Thanksgiving celebrations and I cannot wait to share all about it! We just got back late this evening from Charleston, SC, and, flat out, had the most amazing first Thanksgiving together as a married couple.

I am anxious to share pictures and treasures with you! But since it is so late, I will have to just give you a sneak peek with more to come soon!

Speaking of the holidays, I have to admit...I have been anxiously awaiting Christmas, pretty much since Jon and I got married six months ago. One of the first questions I asked him after we moved into our little home was, "Where are we going to put the Christmas tree?!" Well, Thanksgiving is officially over, and Jon has told me this is the acceptable time to start the "yule-tide-oh-christmas-tree-holly-run-run-rudolph festivities". Tonight I have already managed to watch two Christmas movies: "Ernest Saves Christmas" & "Home Alone". TOMORROW is decorating time! I will be sure to share pictures.

And now, my list of things to catch you up on (posts soon to come!)
1. Thanksgiving & the trip to Charleston
2. Christmas Decorating
3. Special MaieDae holiday GIVEAWAY!

Happy belated Thanksgiving to ALL and an early Merry Christmas!

Inspiration for Your Nest: Studio Spaces

I am currently in the process of designing a studio space//guest room. Right now it is serving as storage, but I am planning to make an IKEA trip soon so that I can make some progress! I thought, in light of my current project room, I would feature studio space inspiration. These pictures just make me ooh and ahh!

Happy Nesting! 

Photo Credits Home Sweet Home

It's Good to Live in the ATL

I had an AMAZING weekend with my buddies. We spent Friday night talking up a storm and catching up on life, love, and faith. We slept in Saturday morning and headed out to the downtown area to visit the long awaited Indie Craft Experience! I. Loved. It. I loved the culture and the people. I also grew in appreciation for the handmade craft. I could tell how everything uniquely displayed the creators taste and personality.

For a good part of the time, we just walked around wide-eyed at the 80-something booths. We each finally settled into our purchase treasures for the day. I was fancy-cameraless, unfortunately, so phone pictures will have to suffice:

Here are my home goodies from Kilroy & Maw, two adorable girls with a talent in unique artwork for the abode. 

I thought maybe we would be burnt out after the "experience", but we pulled up our boots and made a day out of shopping, stopping at Chick-fil-A for a lunch break, swinging by Urban Outfitters near Little Five Points, and heading to Forever21 for the last 40 minutes it was open. It was a great day, and I am tuckered out!

I am making it a goal to have MaieDae appear in at least one craft fair next year. I am definitely eying the ICE venue...Cheers to a wonderful weekend!

 

Reunited & It Feels So Good!

My bestest-college-buddies-ever are coming over to my little place this weekend! One of them I do not get to see but every few weeks and the other is currently living in Texas, so it has been three-way-too-long-months.

This weekend is going to be great because, not only do I get to hang out with these beauties:

BUT we are taking a fancy little trip (OK like 25 minutes) to the ATL for the Indie Craft Experience!

 

I cannot wait! I will update you on my "experience" soon.