Win It: Natty Michelle.



Natty Michelle has the sweetest hand-painted stationery that’s perfect for any occasion. She’s always adding new designs, full of whimsy and flair, and her passion for art is apparent. They’re the perfect day brighteners to have show up in your mailbox! Natalie’s graciously offered up eight cards to the winner of Win It: Natty Michelle. Winner’s choice! Now if that’s not a sweet start to a Monday, well, then I don’t know what is.

To Enter:
• Tell me whether or not you’ve ever had a pen pal
• Leave a valid email address (Those who fail to will be disqualified.)
• Do it all before Monday, July 6 at noon CST

Best of luck! A winner will be chosen randomly shortly after the contest ends.

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Happy Weekend.

The word scorching is an understatement when used to describe the weather we’ve had this week. From my estimation, there wasn’t one day below 100º. In July and August that’s normal, but in June it’s ridiculous! Right now it’s all about the cool indoors. Sad since my fence finally went up last Friday and now my patio furniture has to sit by itself until things cool down. I’m thinking I’ll be back there in, oh, maybe October.

This Weekend:
• K’s birthday Happy Hour
• dinner with the fam
• laundry
• groceries
• touch-up paint on all cabinets and baseboards around the house

NOTE: You only have until Monday at noon CST to enter Win It: Heather Kintner. Take advantage of the low numbers and make her bachelorette invitations and thank you notes yours!

Happy Weekend!

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Welcome Part 3: the Kitchen.

I have to be honest when I say that the kitchen was the biggest reason I bought my house. I love the white, I love the all the storage and I love the set-up. After living in apartment galley kitchens all of my adult life this is a dream come true!

As much as I adore stainless appliances, I went with a white fridge. The stove and dishwasher were already in place and I wanted to maintain consistency. I like to keep it as cleaned off as possible – no magnet collections or anything like that.

Right now my counter is a dark, dappled gray laminate. It’s in great shape and will do for now, but eventually I’d like to install stainless counters. Perhaps even a built-in drain board next to the sink.

This is only a small fraction of the cookbooks I own. The rest are squirreled away in a cabinet next to the oven. The binders on the left are full of the recipes I share on The Daily Eat and the books are some of the ones I like best.

There’s isn’t any backsplash in place, only wall. I’ve been seeing a lot of subway tile lately that I’d love to employ in this space. White please!

I started collecting my Fiestaware in college. Now I have eight settings and some random serving pieces. I love looking at them all stacked up in my cabinets. Most of my other “supporting” dishware is equally colorful or glass. Right now I’m on the market for a set of white dishware for entertaining.

The only window in the entire kitchen is above the sink and is shaded with custom 2 inch wooden slat blinds. My hope is to take them down and in their place put up a few glass shelves when I can grow herbs and succulents.

There’s also a flush mount light fixture (unseen in photo) overhead that I’d like to replace with a modern pendant lighting.

Next: the Dining Area

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The Daily Eat: Blueberry Napoleon + Blueberry Roundup.

I’m really tempted to make this Blueberry Napoleon with Crème Fraîche and Raspberry Powder for the 4th of July (as there’s sure to be a cookout going somewhere…right?) And raspberry powder? Woah.

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3 to See.

Because she always has amazing posts
and she’s also behind Smitten

Because she captures all that’s good in life
and we seem a lot alike

Because the name says it all
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