It's an Ombre Day

{martha stewart}

{erineverafter}

Just a little Ombre eyecandy for today's Tuesday Tablescape.

It's kind of a theme today and I'm super excited about it.

Hope all goes well this afternoon.

More to report later this week!!

happy monday

{via dressdesigndecor}

Fashion Friday

I am a bit fashion obsessed lately. Maybe it's because I decided to cool it with the "home decor" while we are living in a temporary rental {that is busting at the seams with all the stuff I have accumulated}. It's difficult to say the least, but I would rather furnish and decorate a HOUSE with fun and NEW things in a year or two. This means not spending all my extra cash on stuff to fit a space I'm dying to get out of!

But, that creates a decorating void in my life {and my wallet} which must be filled. Solution: Wardrobe.

I have decided now is the perfect time to get rid of all the clutter in my closet and build it back up with better and more beautiful pieces {that I will actually WEAR}. I'm not changing my blog to a fashion-only "what I wore" kind of thing, but I do plan to feature some inspiration every now and then and to keep you updated on what I've done to re-vamp my wardrobe.

I'm approaching it with the same philosophy I use for interior design. Invest in the staples that will last forever and punch it up with fun and trendy accessories and less expensive pieces.

I am of the opinion that everyone's "Classics" or "Staples" are completely different but here's a list provided by Matchbook Magazine.

{Click here, go to page 38}

I think I will make my own list of staples to share with you all soon!



Wordy Wednesday - Scare Yourself

{via On-Hand Modern}

It's Fall. It's October. It's close to Halloween.

This is Orange. This encourages SCARY things.

It Works.

Download the free printable from On-Hand Modern.

Tablescape for a Cure

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. I know it gets a lot of hype, more than other types of cancer but I am all about the PINK when October rolls around because it has affected my life and my loved-ones so many times over. Yesterday a big group of us girls from the office went to a hair salon together to get some pink hair extensions to wear our support for everyone to see. We brought some snacks and some wine to enjoy and make an event out of it. I printed some super cute labels and signs to go along with everything. These signs are available for you to download for FREE from Chickabug along with so many more. They are also featured in today's Tuesday Tablescape!

Styling: Christine of Pure Joy Events
Photography: 6 Bittersweets
Cupcakes: 6 Bittersweets
Cookies: JP Creatibles
Cupcake Toppers: Lynlee's Petite Cakes
Props: Stylish Patina
Props: The Pear Tree Cottage {who are locals! Vienna, VA!!}
Printables: Chickabug {download them FREE!!}
{I got the photos from HowDoesShe, and the shoot is also featured on Amy Atlas, Pizzazzerie, and Kara's Party Ideas}

Breast Cancer Awareness FREE Printables from Chickabug.

{PS- For those of you paying attention, listen up! For every person who leaves a COMMENT on this post, I will donate ONE DOLLAR to Breast Cancer Research. If you are a follower of City Southern and you leave a comment, I will donate $2!! Tell your friends!}

Pumpkin Alternatives

It's Fall, ya'll! And not only is it fall, but now it is officially October...less than a month away from Halloween! Last year hubs and I went to a pumpkin patch and picked out a few small pumpkins to take home. It was a lot of fun, but it would have been more fun with little ones. It also would have been fun to pick out a big pumpkin but no one would ever see it but us! We don't even have an outside entrance to our place, so really...carving a pumpkin is just not happening. But, this year I am strongly considering one of these not-so-typical ways of decorating a pumpkin. I'm very into GOLD right now, so I'm definitely leaning toward something gold. So many choices!! Which ones are your favorites?

{via Tiny Prints blog}

{via Pinterest}

{via Budget Wise Home}

{via Pinterest}

{via Southern Living}

{via Imgfave}

{via Good Housekeeping}

{via BHG}

Lace Covered Pumpkin via BHG

Gold Thumbtack Pumpkins via Madigan Made

Happy Birthday, KH!

{via pinterest}

Black Tie Tuesday

I am long overdue for sharing a tablescape.

Let's make up for that with one that is BOLD and ELEGANT and BEAUTIFUL and has lots of detail shots so you can see it from all it's marvelous angles.

Isn't she lovely? I found her over at Style Me Pretty!

Pantry Project & Inspiration

Hubs and I just renewed our lease through January of 2013 {yikes!}...not very happy about it, nor am I happy about the SERIOUS price increase but...c'est la vie! We decided to make the most of the situation and give the place a mini-makeover. I'd love to say we are going to redecorate but since we only plan to be there for a short while longer, I'd rather save the money to decorate our HOUSE. Instead we are going to give everything a deep clean, shuffle things around, re-organize and add more storage space. Yay! {hubs might not have the enthusiasm right now that I do, but he will thank me in the end, right babe?}

First up: The kitchen pantry. Here are some inspiration photos to tide you over until I can finish my project and post on the results.

{all images via Pinterest}

...of course I have inspiration photos of much larger pantries that are more decorated, but for our purposes in the rented apartment - I'm only after the organization and space-saving.

Can't wait until it's finished!

Curl Fix

A Sorta Fashion-ish Related Post, very different from the norm on City Southern, but TRES important!!

Remember when we {ladies} were young girls, and those with straight hair dreamed of having curls while our curly haired friends envied our straight locks? My hair was straight. Go-to-bed-wet and wake up with stick-straight-hair kind of straight. I desparately wanted curly hair. Since I was a kid in the 80's and my Mom wouldn't let me get a perm...I'd go to bed with braids and wake up with {bad} waves, or just use a crimper {haha, omg I can't believe Then around the age of 13 or 14, my body said "oh so you don't want straight hair?? fine, we'll just give you a frizzy, wavy, MESS!" For years I didn't know what to do with it, so {coveniently during my "awkward years"} I just walked around with said frizzy, wavy, mess and it was bad. Then I started testing all those products that claim to turn wavy frizz into actual curls...and it worked! For about 30 minutes and then you just had wavy frizz with lots of product in it. I bought a flat iron in college and it helped, but still wasn't ever able to find a product that would allow me to go without spending 45 additional minutes on straightening my hair.

Fast forward to present day...

I was wasting a large amount of time at work browsing Pinterest and saw this Garnier Fructis bottle. Someone pinned it with a caption about "this stuff really actually works!" and I was intrigued, but ignored it because most Garnier Fructis stuff smells like fresh fruit which immediately makes me sick {I'm allergic, and my throat gets scratchy and uncomfortable}. But then I was in the grocery store recently with the hubster and saw this product on the shelf. It was literally $3 and then I thought, even if it smells or doesn't work, I think it's worth a shot for the price. So in the cart it went. On the next rainy day, I used it. And proceeded to fall in LOVE with it. Smells great {no scratchy throat..yay!} gives me curl minus the frizz, AND...it lasts damn near the entire day. Even straightening my hair doesn't last all day. Better still: after a full day at work when my hair is completely dry and the curls have started to fall, I can spritz on a few pumps, scrunch it up and bring my style back to life! No Joke, TRY IT if you are still searching for a curl "activator"/ scrunching spray/ wave tamer.

Garnier Fructis Style Curl Shaping Spray Gel, 8.50-Fluid Ounce

Design Sponge at Home

Available Now! Go Pick One Up!!

{read the post on Design Sponge}

Happy Anniversary!

August 29...The one year anniversary of City Southern!

I was hoping to have the makeover completed in time for the one-year mark and do a big reveal. I guess that it's asking too much for it to be completed in 11 months. But...I still wanted to say THANK YOU to all of my followers and readers. You guys are what makes the effort worthwhile. I promise MORE for the second year, so stay tuned for a new and improved City Southern!!

{me and my hubs on our wedding day. Photographers: Sanderson Images}

Sending Some Birthday Love!

...All the way to L.A.

Happy Birthday, PIC!! or Should I say MRS. P?! Love Ya!

{via pinterest}

Shake Things Up!

Literally!... for those of you who are not local to Virginia or the DC Area, we just had an earthquake. It was a 5.9 at the epicenter and I'm not sure what that translates to where I am, but the building shook {I sit on the 10th floor}, stuff fell off the walls and bookshelves, and we all freaked out a little bit. They evacuated the building for quite a while and most everyone took that opportunity to head home. I've experienced one earthquake in my life before today, at Auburn freshman year and it wasn't as bad as this. They say to expect some aftershocks within the next hour or so.

So...thought I'd *shake* things up a bit and do Wordy Wednesday on TUESDAY. Crazy. But it works...in the cheesiest way possible.

{Found this on pinterest}

Double the Love

I went straight from a crib to a full size mattress so my first twin bed was a twin XL in my college dorm room. Maybe that explains my fascination with them! There's something about a room with two twin beds that always grabs my attention. Here are some of my favorites!

I promise I will have a room in my house decorated with twin beds someday. Maybe I'll do a bunk room or "kid cave" with a whole bunch of them for our kids to have friends over.

{All images via Decorpad or Pinterest}