Pretty Pretty, a WINNER, and a deal!

A day late, my apologies. We just got back from out trip down to Dallas and besides needing a detox I need to get organized! Here is a pretty to start your day...

 via Tumbler

And now on to the winner...

#14 is L.Wallace who has won the $100 credit towards any Stella & Dot item, thanks so much to my dear friend Lori Stein!!
And get this, Lori is offering anyone that entered the giveaway 10% off a purchase?! Crazy nice right, all you have to do it email her at sdloristein@hotmail.com and she can give you all of the deets. Congratulations to the winner, can't wait to hear what you are ordering. Mel xo

Giveaway: Stella & Dot

I am so excited to be partnering up with a very dear friend who just happens to be a Stella & Dot super star! Let me introduce you to Lori Stein and the awesome giveaway that she is doing for you, my amazing readers...

Do you know what you can do with $100 and Stella & Dot?! Just take a peek below and some of my favorite items that I know I would go for...

Harlow Bangle | Pegasus Necklace | Soiree Trio Ring | Madeline Pearl Necklace 

Petra Braided Bracelet | Nouvelle Ring | Clover Double Wrap Leather Bracelet

{RULES}

1. Must be a follower of Veranda Interiors

2. Visit Lori's Stella & Dot page HERE and let us know what you would get

3. Become a fan of Lori's on her Facebook page HERE

4. Become a fan of Veranda Interiors on Facebook HERE

5. Tweet about it!! Tweet Tweet

6. Here is a double entry, order any item from Lori through her Stella & Dot site HERE and you get 2 more shots at it, let me know what you buy...I'm nosy like that.

So say what?! 7 ways to win, shut the front door! Remember, one entry for every way you have entered above, be sure to leave ONE comment per entry. The giveaway will be open until Sunday, November 27th. The winner will be drawn through Random.org & will be announced Monday, best of luck!!!

*open to US residents only, don't worry, I'm having giveaways for everyone shortly*

Thank you so much Lori for helping me host this killer giveaway, and right in time for the holiday season. Think of all of the pretty pretty things you can get for yourself or others, it is that time of the year! Mel xo

BTW, I'm off to Dallas for some family time, margaritas, and fried turkey. I'll be back soon :)

Gift Guide {BOOKS}

Here are a few books that I am loving for holiday gifts, fingers crossed a few are under the tree for me when I wake up Christmas morning!!

{FASHION}

Louis Vuitton | Prada| Ralph Lauren | Gucci | Alexander McQueen | Hermés | Chanel

{ANIMALS}

 Living With Dogs | Living with Pugs | Horses | On This Earth | Bird

{TRAVEL}

Luxury Hotels Top of the World | New York Portraits of a City | Remote Luxury | 

Top Ski Resorts of the World | Cool Hotels Best of Europe

{FOOD}

Cooking My Way Back Home | Home Cooking with Jean-Georges | The Complete Keller
José Andres Made In Spain | Modernist Cuisine | The Art of Living Joe Beef

Hope this helps make shopping a bit easier for some of you! Be sure to check back tomorrow, hosting a giveaway (one of many coming up) for the holiday season. Have a wonderful Monday! Mel xo

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Lynx Ridge, more images...

Here are some more images from the Lynx Ridge home that we recently turned over to the clients. As I mentioned before this home was a bit of a challenge for me, it could not be any more different from our own home, in fact I think the only similarity that it has is that we both moved in in 2011...but that is why I love my job. I don't want every home I work on to be representative of my style and what I love, I want it to speak volumes about the home owners, it is their space and they need to be filled with joy while in it. 

{study}

{upper loft}

{wet bar}

 For not being one that is overly fond of tons of wood I do love this wet bar. The curved bulkhead and paneled ceiling make this space very masculine and the perfect spot to belly up to.

 all images by LifeSeven & property of Veranda Estate Homes

So glad it is Thursday it means this week is almost over...it has been a loooooong week that got worse yesterday when the Hubs went out to start his truck and surprise surprise it was gone, as in stolen; with his wallet, all of our building permits, plans, his work computer, tons.of.stuff. I am a believer in karma and it will come around, honestly it is more of a pain than anything. We are all safe, healthy, and very blessed so have fun with the truck you jerk, you can't steal our spirit! Mel xo

Mud Room: Take 4

A few of you have asked on the progress of the mud room. Well, there hasn't been any. I have kept all of the paper samples up, staring at them, walking by them, even touching them...but for some reason I haven't ordered any. I guess I have commitment issues or something, that is until now. I had a 'love at first sight' experience with some paper and I knew we were meant to be.

Say hello to what will finally be gracing our mud room walls, this stunning paper by Florence Balducci for Anthropologie. I think it is going to be the perfect fit for the space and I have a few fun things planed for this room once the paper is done.

BUT a warning, it will be awhile before I share the images, not sure when I can get the paper installed and honestly with the holidays on the horizon this girl is going to be a busy bee working, playing, and a bit of partying...don't worry Santa, I'll be good! Mel xo

Family Pictures

We just got our family pictures back from the talented Maria Lang and I am so in love with every single one of them!! Here is a peek at a few a lot of my favorites...

 all images by the one & only Maria Lang

Thank you Maria for your gentle ways, amazing eye, and talent that makes me smile. I feel so luck to have you document our family year after year. Oh, and HERE is a link to Maria's blog, with a few more from this shoot. xo Mel

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Be sure to pop over to the guest post I did for Cara and enter the giveaway, that is only if you want a $100 to put towards a Visual Comfort light!!!!

Design Crush: Michael Abrams

It is not very often that I find a space that wows me, but this Astor Street home does just that. Michael Abrams I love you & your style...

Now this, this sitting room, that ceiling, the light, everything, I need this now!

 via Michael Abrams

Amazing, right? I know I will have dreams about that ceiling! Hope you had a wonderful weekend and here to to a great week ahead! Mel xo

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 Be sure to pop over to the guest post I did for Cara and enter the giveaway, that is only if you want a $100 to put towards a Visual Comfort light!!!!

Fridays Favorite: Shellac ladies...a giveaway too!!!

I haven't done one of these in awhile, mostly because I haven't been THIS excited about something in a long time. Shellac, as in a shellac manicure. Ladies listen to me, THEY ROCK!

So whats the deal? Well, lets see, it is dry as soon as it is done being applied, no more fan hands or being careful trying to find the keys in your bag. The best thing though, it last 2+ weeks, no chips, no peeling. They stay shiny and pretty till you remove it. I also find that my nails are not breaking as often as they usually do which is a bonus!

Tons of colors to choose (more than in the image above) from, my favorite as of late is Fedora, but I am gearing up for a bright festive red. I haven been getting them done for the past 4 months and I am never going back to the old school way. Give it a shot, I know you will be hooked! Happy weekend!!! Mel xo

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 Be sure to pop over to the guest post I did for Cara and enter the giveaway, that is only if you want a $100 to put towards a Visual Comfort light!!!!

A lil' treat...

I'm over here today with Cara...

Be sure to pop over, there is a little giveaway going on that you may be interested in. Mel xo

Knock Knock: Rock Lake

Amazing, right? Just wait till you see inside this beauty by LDa Architecture & Interiors.

What I love most about this home is the consistency between the exterior & interior of the home, to say it flows is an understatement.

While you couldn't ever pay me enough to have dark floors like this again I still love them. Maybe when we are not living with little ones anymore, maybe then we will consider it.

I like the detail of the sliding doors to the formal dining room, a fun way to add drama without killing the space. Also notice the windows are consistent throughout the home, making every room feel like an extension of one another.

Check out that detail on the interior doors, but what really gets me is the view from that tub!

I haven't done a black kitchen in years, in fact the last one was 6 years ago...maybe the time has come to do it again, it is quite spectacular isn't it?

Everyone needs their own DJ booth right?

 Yeah, that will do...

all images via LDa Architects & Interiors

I know I found a lot of inspiration from this home, I hope you did as well!! Mel xo

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