post #66 - Home Office Update

Hey y'all! Hoping everyone had a great weekend - I know I did! I left after work on Friday and went to Greenville to shop with friends. Then, I headed back to Columbia and spent a low-key Saturday night watching Breaking Bad with Jo. Is anyone else loving this show?

Sunday was spent working in the house. To provide an update, we've been a little slow getting things done in these parts. I've been waiting to unpack lots of things until I'm sure of the way I want them. I'm finally starting to hang things on the walls and unpack our "unnecessary" things.

Our study/home office has been especially slow on the unpacking front. I'm eager to get this room painted and set up! There are some major things we need here. Since we moved into our last house, I've been on the hunt for a desk lamp. I'm torn between a table lamp that will take up space on the table but look a bit more trendy, vs. a traditional desk lamp. We also need lots of throw pillows for this room. We have a couch and a window seat, which I can't wait to curl up in and read a book!

We'll plan on putting most of our framed Clemson prints in this room, so it will have lots of orange accents. We also are going to paint the room a darker grey/blue color. We've done the majority of the house in a very light grey, so we plan on finding something that will compliment the space outside the room. Pictures coming soon!

Here are a few of our priority purchases for this room. Although some of these things are a little a lot out of our price range, these are a few ideas.

I'd love to hear your thoughts - this is definitely not my forte, so I'd love to hear from those of you that are far craftier than me!

Morgan

post #65 - Still alive! And big news...

Hey y'all! Once again...unplanned blogging hiatus. Things have been pretty busy in my world. Lots of work, friends, and just general life stuff.

Here are a few pictures of what's going on in my world...

You may be wondering what cheap spaghetti for dinner, paint colors, and lots + lots + lots of boxes have in common. Our big news is that we're closing on our first house on June 30! 

We are so excited. We've started the packing process, but 1000 boxes later, I feel like we're only about 1/4 of the way done.

Hopefully this will encourage lots more posts and DIY on my end. Looking forward to finally living in a house that we can make a home...and having lots of extra space to entertain and fill with friends and family!

Here are some of my favorite ideas that I've spotted over the weekend:

The shelving and stone backspash here are to die for!

{found here}

This entire guest room is fantastic, but these prints are so handy and perfect!

{found here}

This dresser. Obsessed. Just...yep. Obsessed.

{found here}

I'll be doing lots of posts on house inspirations and blogging with updates on our decorating (and furniture purchasing!) process (on a budget, of course!!)... Feel free to follow along with my Pinterest house posts here or follow on Bloglovin here!

Until next time! xoxo

post #37 - F5: Lazy Weekends, Fall Decor, Boots, Target, and a New Blog Design!

It's Friday? Five Things for September 13.

Hey there, pretty blog friends! Hope you've had a super week!

5 highlights of this week...

1. Lazy Weekends

Last week, I backed out of going to the Clemson game and stayed home with the pup. I started Saturday morning at the Farmer's Market with a girlfriend. Milly naturally made friends with the biggest horse dog there, we enjoyed mimosas, and I got some peaches, kale, goat cheese, and crab + avocado ravioli.

{nice and tired when we left.}

{my "single for the day" lunch - lavender goat cheese, pretzels, and cookie butter! mmm}

I watched the Georgia/South Carolina game with Jo's mom and called it a night. The next morning, I headed to the Panthers opening game in Charlotte with some coworkers. A fun time was had by all!

2. Fall Decor

I finally put out some fall decorations! I picked up the glass leaf plates at TJ Maxx over the weekend and love the touch they add to the table. And pumpkin candles...*insert sigh of happiness

{our kitchen table is ready for fall!}

{pumpkin spice candles make me a happy girl!}

3. Boots

Is it time for these yet? I'm quick to put on my cowboy boots - in fact, I wore them to our first football game against Georgia. But, when are we officially allowed to start wearing our riding boots? I got a pair of brown Nine West riding boots last year for Christmas that I love, but this year I'm in the market for some black ones. Is it just me, or are decent looking black ones harder to find? Let me know if you have any suggestions. Until then, I'll just keep dreaming about these.

{stuart weitzman 50/50 stretch over the knee boot}

4. My Target Haul!

After Christina posted an Instagram picture of her Pumpkin Spice M&Ms, I knew I'd be heading to Target to pick some up. Naturally, I didn't leave with just M&Ms. I tried to find the new Essie shades I talked about here and here, but of course they were sold out. I think I found the next best thing in Sally Hansen's Insta Dry - "Gone Grey." I also found some great smelling citronella candles for 70% off!

{clear organizer for work, sharpie pens, pumpkin spice m&ms, nail polish, & candles. + lots of diet coke, not pictured ;-)}

5. Blog Designs!

My little blog is still growing! It's been so exciting to keep gaining followers each day on BlogLovin, Google Friend Connect, and Facebook. (Not following yet? What are you waiting for!) The only thing that's been getting me down is my blog design. Right now, I'm using a freebie - I can't quite decide when the right time is to bite the bullet and purchase a paid design. Here's where I need your advice, experienced bloggers - at what point did you purchase a blog design? A certain number of followers? Page views? Are you happy with your designer? Could you justify the cost?

6. A Little Humor For Today

I had to add a 6th this week. This link is too. funny. Dying. Like, tears might be escaping. 

Thanks for following along with my little old life! Your comments just make my day ;-) And if you're not following along yet, I'd sure love to have you along for the ride!

Xo - Morgan

post #23 - Creating a Dream Home on a Nightmare Budget (Guest Post)

Creating a Dream Home on a Nightmare Budget

Today, I asked my friend Sable to give my readers some decorating tips. She never ceases to amaze me with some of the cutest apartment decor in town, and is definitely a lady-lawyer with some great taste!

I was so honored when Morgan asked me to do a guest post while she is studying away for the Bar Exam. I met Morgan when I was her mentor on her first day of law school orientation and cannot believe that she is already taking the bar - time really does fly!  I am moving to a new apartment in a very short time and have been slowly collecting décor to make my new place look like some of my favorite Pinterest photos, but sadly that can be very expensive.  Over the last couple of months I have learned some great tricks to create the home of your dreams on a budget. I thought I would share some of my favorites with you all!

1.  Used Coffee Table Books

I LOVE coffee table books. I actually think I’m a bit of a hoarder, but sadly those hardback jewels do not come cheap.  While perusing Amazon one day a few years ago I decided to click on the used link. I was shocked at how affordable the used books were and how many options there were, so I took a leap of faith and made a purchase of a book in “very good” condition.  When the book arrived it was in “very good” condition, if not like new, and I had saved at least 80% of the cover price. I have been buying used when I can ever since.  I like to use Amazon because it pulls from many different websites and gives you the condition. As a general rule I usually only purchase “very good” and “like new” - I’m not sure what they would look like beyond that.  So, next time you are looking for a coffee table book (or any book for that matter) click the Amazon used button and hope your luck is as good as mine has been!

These are just some of my used coffee table books on my TV Stand / Bookcase (Target clearance $99.00)!

2.  TJ Maxx is your BEST friend

My very favorite place to shop for home décor these days is TJ Maxx.  Unlike it’s stylish counterpart, Home Goods, most people do not go to TJ Maxx when they are decorating their homes. But, more often than not, TJ Maxx has the very same products as Home Goods, but at cheaper prices and much less picked over.  TJ Maxx home shopping does take some effort though - sometimes there will be nothing you like and sometimes there will be tons of things.

TJ Maxx restocks 3 to 5 times during the week and does clearance markdowns on Wednesdays.  While I have been shopping for my new apartment I have been going to TJ Maxx at least once a week to look through their home department and at the new clearance markdowns. Shopping that often is hard work, but someone has to do it!  

Another perk of TJ Maxx is that they do layaway on everything except large furniture.  I know layaway sounds old fashioned, but if there is something you love that costs a bit extra, but you want to pay for it in cash, they only require a 10% down payment and give you a month to pay for it and pick it up!

These are some of my favorite budget finds!  The tray, candle, coral and elephant all came from TJ Maxx!  In the previous pictures from my bookcase the owls and the coral were both TJ Maxx clearance!  

3.  One Man’s Trash Really is Another Man’s Treasure  

Second-time-around furniture stores are a gold mine for the home. I don’t mean antique stores, I mean actual consignment shops.  If you go to an “antique store” you are going to pay the price for an antique; but, the average person who decides to sell some of their furniture is more likely to take it to a consignment store, especially if they don’t know the value! Another perk of furniture consignment shops is that the longer the furniture stays, the lower the price goes. If you are willing to wait, the deal can keep getting better and better!

This bar cart is my all time favorite consignment store purchase.  I think it is very similar to the ones that are all over Pinterest and in magazines, but at just around $100.00, the price tag is much better!

4.  A Coat of Paint Can Fix Almost Anything

Even better than finding a great deal is repurposing something you already have with a can of spray paint!  If you don’t like black, white or whatever the color might be, a coat of primer and a coat of spray paint can fix it up in an instant!  

The best time to get spray paint is when it is 30% or 50% off at Hobby Lobby. When it goes to 50% off I stock up on my favorite metallic colors - but if you need to buy a can and it is not on sale, you can always pull up a 40% off Hobby Lobby coupon on the internet or even on your cell phone in the store and get your instant discount!

A word to the wise - humidity is NOT your friend when spray painting! Scrubbing gold paint off of your legs and arms before a dinner out is not easy!

This coffee table is now the focal point of my Living Room, but for about 10 years it sat outside on my parents’ deck!  A good washing and a few coats of metallic gold paint made it comparable to a similar one I wanted from a room featured in House Beautiful!

I hope my tips will help you in future decorating ventures and that you enjoyed my guest post. I know Morgan can’t wait to be done with the bar and back to blogging!

A HUGE thank you to Sable! This post makes me so excited to get back to decorating our house. I hope some of her skill will rub off on me!

Don't forget to follow Makeshift Margaritas on BlogLovin, Facebook, Instagram, & Blogger!

XOXO -

Inthefinalhomestretchanddrinkingtoomuchcoffee&RedBull

post #19 - F5: Seabrook Island, Black Orchid Candle, Toothpick Jeans, Drinks, & Coffee!

Friday Favorites for July 5!

Happy July 5th everyone! I hope that you are all recovering from fun Independence Day celebrations and that this morning isn't too rough! I'll have to admit - this was my lamest 4th of July yet. After all, it's 7am and I'm up and at em. (WHAT.) But you can bet that I'll be celebrating double time next year! Favorites this week...

1. Seabrook Island, SC
Seabrook has a special place in my heart, as it's where Jo and I got engaged, over a year and a half ago. (wow!!) This weekend trip will be a little more low key than our engagement weekend, but I am super excited to go back and relive the memories. We'll be leaving when he gets off work today and I'll be taking some of Saturday off from studying (please keep your gasps to a minimum). This time, we get to celebrate his sister's birthday! To say I'm ready for sun, sand, and a drink in hand is an understatement!

(Milly's last trip to Seabrook!)

(Engagement! Can we do it again this year? When I can wear real, non-gym clothes?)

(Celebrations!)

2. Scentsational Black Orchid Natural Soy Candle
I picked one of these up at TJ Maxx last year, and it is my favorite candle EVER. I looked frequently and couldn't find another one anywhere. Not long ago, I was in Marshalls and the heavens opened - one was sitting on the shelf. This candle seriously smells divine and lasts forever! If you ever see this...buy it. I've been burning it nonstop this week and it's veryyyy yummy.

3. JCrew Toothpick Jeans
It's been a rainy summer. Lots of pants. Not so many shorts. Believe me when I say, over the years, I've tried a lot of jeans. Most of the designers you can think of. These jeans are probably my favorite pair that I have ever owned. They fit like a glove, and are soft and actually comfortable. These have been making appearances a little too often. Including once at least twice this week.

(dark wash. love. next i'll be hopefully getting a lighter wash, so I can actually wear them actuallyallthetime)

4. This drink of April's!

I saw this post on A. Liz Adventures and had to give it a try. My love for St. Germain has blossomed over the summer, and this drink hit the spot! I made a few small changes so I could work with what I had on hand, but this cocktail tasted like candy and put me right to sleep and was delicious!

1 part St. Germain

1.5 parts 99 Whipped Schnapps

2.5 parts club soda

Pinch of mint leaves

Lavender sprig

 5. COFFEE
I've been drinking a lot of coffee lately. Like, a lot. Jo is a big coffee drinker, too. I've never been so glad that we decided to make a coffee bar at our new rental house! We have a small kitchen, so this was the perfect solution to keep all of our coffee supplies. I got a lot of Pinterest inspiration, and am so happy with how ours turned out. I still plan to decorate this and fine tune it more, but it's working for now. I can't wait until we purchase a house and can actually paint the wall behind it, but love the utility of this set up!

(we keep this in the office...right where it belongs.)

I got inspiration from some of these...

(thevintagewren.blogspot.com)

(thevintagewren.blogspot.com)

(savvycityfarmer.blogspot.com)

I also have some super super super exciting news this week. For the next few weeks, I'll be spending too much time studying. I've decided to take a break from blogging because 1) I don't have time, and 2) I'm not doing anything interesting enough for you to want to read anyway. But, I have asked a few of my most stylish, creative, and awesome friends to fill in for me. I'll be having two guest posts a week, running from mid July until the beginning of August. I can't wait to see what these ladies have to say and get some advice on decorating, products, and more! Is there anything you'd like to see blogged about? Leave a comment!

Don't forget to follow me on Instagram, Bloglovin, Blogger, and Facebook!

Have a wonderful weekend!

MBC

Love Thai Food? Check out my post about Basil in Columbia, SC here!

Thanks for the link up A. Liz Adventures, Carolina Charm, Hello! Happiness, and The Good Life Blog!