What I’m Lovin’ Wednesday: My NEW Camera!!!!

Last Friday, the Mr came home from work and said he had a surprise for me. 

I *love* it when he says that lol

From the title of this post you can easily guess what my surprise was, but I was certain it was another puppy.

 

I was sooooo wrong. 

When he put the boxes on my lap, I could feel that it was way too heavy to be a puppy, and I was clueless as to what it could be.  When I opened my eyes I was speechless.  I had been asking for a camera upgrade, and I knew that Phil had been doing his research for about a year.  However, I had no idea that Friday was the day. 

I went from this Sony Digital Camera (which really is still a great point and shoot camera)……..

…….to this baby: a Nikon DSLR 5100 with a 18-55mm VR lens as well as a 55-300mm VR lens (sold separately). 

Phil also  got me some Nikon Photography classes & books.  Though I haven't started my classes yet, I have had a blast exploring my new camera and I wanted to share some of my first shots with you.  (I didn’t do any editing to these photos.  I want a point of reference to monitor my progress- once a scientist, always a scientist lol).

Didn’t Phil get me an amazing camera?!?!  He is so good to me!!! I think I’ll keep him ;-)

I’ve been looking through a lot of tutorials online, but if you have any website/book suggestions please send them my way; I have a lot to learn and I’m SO excited!

And, in case you haven't figured this out yet, the next several months of posts are probably going to be picture-heavy.  I apologize now! 

Hope you’re having a great week!

Which is Best?

When you see these pictures I’m certain you will see my dilemma.  How could I possibly decide which is cuter?!

Little Tomlin with a little yellow jacket stinger?

Or, Tomlin as a red dinosaur with green spikes?

How precious is this four-eyed dinosaur? 

These Halloween costumes aren’t scary at all, are they?  lol

At the store Tomlin and I just couldn’t decide which was better…..so of course we got both.  We have a few weeks to make our final decision.   For now, we’re laughing hysterically at her prance around in her new “outfits”.

Help us decide, Which do you think is best?

Destruction Before Reconstruction: FINAL REVEAL

After a month of work, and a month of teasing you, the master bedroom makeover is complete.  I’m so excited to share the final product with you!  Are you ready for this?!  Many of you requested a video, so this is my first video I’ve posted on Life with the Hawleys; just for you :-)

Before I show you the “new” bedroom, let’s take a walk down memory lane with what our bedroom used to look like, just so you can remember how far we’ve come.

This was our bed without a headboard, and this was our bedding- shiney right? lol

This was the old version of the nightstand and the lamp from college.

The armoire with my ancient boom box hahaha I am still laughing about this.

This is Phil’s dresser that matches the rest of the furniture (though in the picture it looks like a completely different color- weird)….we actually didn’t do anything to this.

Every night I threw (pun intended) the throw pillows on the floor in an “orderly” fashion.

I also had some “wonderful” decorations in our room…..more like I had a bunch of random junk, including a painting, change bucket, and sparkly Christmas mistletoe (oh yes, real classy in August hahaha)…..this place was a disaster zone!   Ok I was wrong.  The real disaster zone was my closet! (insert horror movie scream here)        This was our laundry system that we rigged to the wall to keep Tomlin from parading our personals around the house.   Talk about embarrassing!

See ya ugly, random, left-over college junk, bedroom!  We will NOT be missing you!

Now that we’ve reviewed and paid our last respects to the former bedroom, let's watch the video of the new room!!!!

I’ve gotten so many great tips, comments, and suggestions from all of you, so you can take credit for this room because you were so influential and inspirational :-) Thank you, Thank you; I million times: THANK YOU!!!!

Please let me know what you think!  Did I keep with the theme well? Do I have a southern accent (lol)? Is it rustic romance? Is it shabby chic? Do you have a favorite part?  Where are my areas for improvement?

Blog on Fire

Eliza over at Baby Bound gave me the Blog on Fire Award!!!!  Thank you so much Eliza!!!!!

In order for me to redeem such a wonderful honor, I need to share 7 things about myself with you.  So here goes:

1. Sometimes (most of the time) when I’m at a restaurant, I make my decision on what to order based on whether or not the meal comes with french fries.  I just love ‘em.  I can’t help it.
2. In my opinion, BBQ should always be pulled pork, and should always be eaten with coleslaw.  The coleslaw however, is not a side dish, but instead, a condiment for the sandwich. Not eating coleslaw on top of your pork BBQ sandwich should be a cardinal sin ;-)
3. I danced for 24 years of my life.  I have danced almost every single genre, but my favorite is hip hop, with tap as a close second, and swing as my third favorite.  I was also a majorette for 12 years.
4. I have been singing my entire life, and I toured Europe on a singing tour for 3 months before moving to Houston.  It was a blast!
5. I’ve been working since I was 13 and have had a lot of great and fun jobs.  I’ve worked in the Operating Room, a hair salon, been an Event Planner, sold appliances, wrote the science curriculum for incarcerated high school males in Virginia, a food critic for the local newspaper, taught in elementary (3rd grade) and middle school (7th and 8th grade), a nanny, and now I’m a behavioral neuroscientist (i.e. professional nerd) and teach college students.
6. I’m a proud Delta Zeta!!!!
7. I have a BA in religious studies, a BA in Biopsychology, and a Masters in Developmental and Cognitive Neuroscience.  I will be getting my PhD in Behavioral Neuroscience in May.

Did you learn something new about me? I tried to tell you things that you might not know about me.  Thank you so much Eliza for this awesome honor!!!!!  You’ve got to go check out my awesome bloggy friend Eliza….she’s a fun & fashionable pregnant mamma who you’ll just love!  Go and check out her blog :-)

What I’m Lovin’ Wednesday: Strappy Strips

I am 100% girlie-girl.  Probably since the time I could walk I was wearing “hee-highls” <—this is what I used to call high heels when I was a little girlie-girl.  I may be much larger and can pronounce shoes correctly, but I still love ‘em; that much has not changed. 

 

I wear heels everyday.  Even my flip-flops have a heel or a platform.  It doesn’t matter what I’m doing each day, I find a way to wear my heels.  It doesn’t hurt that I married a 6’7 man <—God made him just for me & my 4-inch heels :-)

 

When I was younger my mother used to always tell me, “It hurts to be beautiful”

 

Well, not anymore mom ;-)

 

I have found the most wonderful product for shoe-lovers:

 

Strappy Strips!!!!

 

I took my boots in to the “Shoe Hospital” to get polished a couple weeks ago.  I asked my shoe’s “doctor” about something to prevent my sling-backs from slipping (maybe I’m a little slow to finally ask after suffering all these years).  That’s when he told me about Strappy Strips; He has changed the life of my tootsies forever!

 

These strips are amazing!  They come in several colors and have an adhesive back.  It’s sticky enough where they wont fall off, but you can always move them later.  The cushions prevent blisters and red marks. 

I cut them up and put them on my sling-backs, the edges of pumps that rub my ankle, & around the front of my peep toed shoes.  Seriously I’m walking on clouds!  If you wear heels you *must* try these strips out .  I have some for back-up in my closet, and I have some in my purse; you just never know when you could use a Strappy Strip.

 

Go get some of these!!!!!

25 Ways to Wear a Scarf

Kellyn is my sister.

She is stunning. 

Kellyn looks fabulous everyday!

She is also one of the most fashionable people I know.  So when Kellyn makes a fashion suggestion, I listen! 

She sent me this youtube link on 25 ways to wear a scarf.  It’s amazing.  The video walks you through each option, all under 5 minutes.   

Then at the end there is an option to go back and watch your favorites again.

I’m not the best at self portraits so ignore the quality of this picture (and how super close my face is to my phone lol), but here was my first attempt at one of the tutorials last week at work.

Take Kellyn’s fashion advice –> go watch the video :-)

Destruction Before Reconstruction: Accent Extra

Ok friends, I am well aware that I have been teasing you with this master bedroom make-over.  I’ve shared bits and pieces of the room and my different projects with you over the past month, but the end is near.  I PROMISE you’ll get the final reveal very soon. 

Today I want to share with you some of the accent pieces (is that what they’re called?)  that I added to our bedroom.  Of course I was trying to keep with my rustic romance/shabby chic theme, so I’m hoping that these pieces fit the bill (please tell me if they don’t though lol)

Remember how I had blankets and throw pillows stored “nicely” on the floor in front of the window?  Well it was way past time for a more polished look.  I originally was looking for a white bench that opened up so I could put pillows inside.  I never found something for my size space for a decent price, but I did happen to see this cute wicker trunk at Ross for $19.  Exactly the size I wanted for way less than I was willing to spend: sounds like a good deal to me :-)

When my sister was visiting us in June we went shopping and found some perfect sconces for the room.  Phil hung one on each side of the headboard and we added white candles.  I was thinking of adding a colored candle……what color do you think I should pick?  Phil said the only color he didn’t want was blue.  This of course was going to be my suggestion, but we have a blue kitchen and I maayyyyy have over done it (thought I will never openly admit this).  So for now the candles are white.  What do you think?

Kellyn (my sister) and I also got this distressed navy blue shelf, and Phil hung it for me next to the entrance of my closet.  I painted a monogram ‘H’ Tiffany Blue, framed a picture of me and my honey, and added a metal cross.  I don’t really know what I want to put in there, but I think these things will do for now, however I am open for suggestions.

So I’m thinking that these were all of the finishing touches for the room.  I’ve now shown you a DIY burlap lamp shade, new curtains, renovated nightstand, new hamper, DIY chalkboard messenger, new bedding, new armoir décor, DIY reading chair, closet make-over, DIY shutter picture holder, DIY headboard, and of course the finishing touches today. 

Phew that was a lot!  Are you tired of hearing about this project yet?!

Do you know what that means? Do you know what is right around the corner?  YES, the final reveal!!!!!! Hang on to your hats, because it’s comin! 

My First Link-Up Party!!!!!

Did you notice that I didn't post a "What I'm Lovin'" post this week?!  Well that's because today I'm co-hosting my first link-up party with Jaime at Crafty, Scrappy, Happy!!!!!!

I am So excited to see what you have to link up this week!!

Here are ideas for what you might want to link up at this party!

Crafty-yep, anything and all crafty posts are SO very welcome---lets see it----I can't wait to be inspired!

Scrappy-any fun finds from a thrift store or garage sale that someone else might have scrapped but you saved and re-purposed?!  Be sure to share those posts too!

Happy-I would love to learn more about YOU-share posts about whatever makes you happy!

No huge and crazy rules....just the normal stuff.

Please be a follower of Crafty Scrappy Happy!

Post anything related to Crafty, Scrappy or Happy---no giveaways or etsy shops.

Link to your specific post you want us to see.

Anddd add the party button to your post or to your party list on your blog----pretty pretty please!!??!!

<center><a href="http://jaimelyn11.blogspot.com"><img src="http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/jaimelyn11/partybutton.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a></center>

Now go and do some exploring---get to know other wonderful blog friends and be inspired!

Crafty, Scrappy, Happy! I'm guest posting!!

I'm guest posting over at Crafty, Scrappy, Happy today.  I'm talking about alternatives for pumpkin carving...go check it out!

Jaime is awesome, so you've got to hope over and visit; I know you're gunna love her.  Make sure to leave her some bloggy-love.

Hope you're having a great week :-)

Fall is a southerners reward for having survived summer

“Fall is a southerners reward for having survived summer” designer James Farmer

How can you not agree with that quote?!

The first week of September I pulled our fall decorations out and went to town transforming our house into an autumn wonderland.  I had a blast decorating this year.  Despite the still warm weather, it feels like fall at home :-)

First thing I did was start a pot of chili on the stove.  The smell alone had me feeling festive :-)

Next, I made sure football was on TV and got to decorating.  This is our autumn mantel. 

On the left side, I have 2 small leaf tealight holders, an owl, an orange gourd vase, a gold frame with me & hubs, and a candle stand with  a pumpkin scented candle on top and filled with mini pumpkins.  I’m not a huge Halloween person, so in my attempt to try and incorporate Halloween I added a rubber spider.  Yes I know, I’m real crazy lol

Below on the left side, I have my distressed ‘H’, a large acorn, an upside down wooden container with a candle on top, & 3 fall scented candles.

The swag in the middle I made, and you can see how I did that here. On the right side of the mantle I have another gourd filled with wheat, another leaf tealight holder, a mason jar filled with acorns, a photo of us, and another candle stand filled with mini pumpkins.  Again, I added a rat and a spider to try to be Halloweenie. 

On the coffee table I have a white compote filled with nature-like things: acorns, pine cones, mini pumpkins, leaves…you get the idea.

I purchased these pillows last year at Pier 1.  I don’t normally have them out on the couch, but I love them for the fall because the orange ones look like piles of leaves.  Do you think so, or am I just crazy?   In the dining room I went simpler than I have in previous years.  I have a rod iron pumpkin with a pumpkin scented candle as a centerpiece.  I purchase new quilted placemats this year but reused the green linens from a couple years ago.  On the right side of the buffet I have bowls and napkins ready for our chili.  Yum-o!  And on the left side I brought my coffee candles in from the porch and put in pumpkin scented candles.  I got that owl tealight from Kroger for $3; cute, right?

             So this is how we’re living for the next couple months.  Have you started decorating for fall?  What do you do for fall?  What family traditions do you have for this time of year?