I Want It Painted Black + 7 Wardrobe Essentials

I have been wanting to paint my front door black forever.  All these images I saved were my inspiration for my latest nap time project.

Black interior door are perfection, right??   In keeping with my New Years Goals to accomplish a house project every month, I tackled this one last week.  It was a super quick project.  Many of the sites I read said to prime the door first but I skipped that step (call me lazy) and honestly it turned out just fine.  I don't think it made a difference at all.  I used Sherwin Williams High Gloss Black and it took me three coats of paint.  It is important to let each layer dry before you apply the next layer or you will have streak marks. The paint dried pretty fast, I think I waited about an hour between each coat.   I could not be more pleased with the results!

The high gloss black made a world of difference!

Here is a view of the before and after:
(side note the trim around the door needs to be repainted white- hence why it looks dingy)

Next up I want a fancy brass animal door knocker for the front of the door.  I love Nancy's from Marcus Design.

I am also thinking about painting our bathroom cabinets high gloss black.  I just repainted the walls yesterday and I think high gloss black would look amazing with the new wall color.  What is everyone's thoughts on black bathroom cabinets??  My mom was not completely sold on the idea but I still am digging it.  This image I found on Pinterst is what inspired me.  I love the black paint and sleek hardware.

And here is our bathroom.  Thoughts on the black paint?  My only worry is I might get tired of it.  My other option is a fresh coat of high gloss white and of course new knobs and pulls.  And a new shower curtain, I am so over the giant monogram.  It was a wedding gift so it is a good 5 years old, time for something new!

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Lastly, I am guest posting today over at Carmel's fabulous blog Our Fifth House, sharing my 7 Wardrobe Essentials!  Please head over and check out my post HERE!  If you don't already read Carmel's blog you should, she is such a sweetheart with a great eye for design!

Raspberry Crumble Bars

 

I have been wanting to make these bars ever since my girlfriend brought them over to our house a few weeks ago.  They are ridiculously easy to make, like it took me maybe 10 minutes to whip them together.  They are soooo good.  The Raspberry Jam, paired with the granola, almonds and shortbread is pure heaven.  Sterling loved them, they were a huge hit with the whole family. 

This recipe is from The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook, Fool Proof, which so far is one my favorites cookbooks she had made.  Every recipe I have tried in it is amazing!  You will love these bars until you eat like 5 of them and wish you hadn't made them because you can't stop eating them!  (true story over here). Enjoy!

{RASPBERRY CRUMBLE BARS}

½ pound (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
¾ cup sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon kosher salt
10 to 12 ounces good raspberry jam, such as Hero
2/3 cup good granola without dried fruit
1/4 cup sliced almonds
Confectioners' sugar, for sprinkling

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Place the butter and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and mix on medium speed just until combined. With the mixer on low, add the vanilla.

Sift the flour and salt together and, with the mixer on low, slowly add to the butter mixture, mixing until it almost comes together in a ball. Turn the dough out on a board. Lightly pat two-thirds of the dough evenly on the bottom of a 9-inch square baking pan and about ¼ inch up the sides. Spread with the jam, leaving a ¼-inch border. Mix the granola into the remaining dough with your hands. Break the dough into small bits, and distribute it on top of the jam, covering most of the surface. Sprinkle the almonds on top. Bake the bars for 45 minutes, until lightly browned.

Cool completely and cut into 9 or 12 bars. Sprinkle lightly with confectioners’ sugar.

Obsessions

{NOIR URSULA NECKLACE}

Baublebar has been killing it with their jewelry lately.  I love both of these necklaces.  They remind me of the JCrew ones but for a fraction of the cost!

Noir Ursula Necklace || Pink Ursula Necklace

{RILLER AND FONT FAYE ROUCHED DRESS}

I am obsessed with little cotton dresses for the summer.  Primarily because they are comfortable and easy for running errands with a little one.  This is made out of the softest material and it is so flattering.  The rouching really helps cover up tummy issues if you know what I mean!  I could not be thrilled with it!  Plus its on sale right now!

{FREE PEOPLE SAHAYING SLUB SKIRT}

Totally obsessed with the print on this maxi skirt.  Would be perfect for summer with a white or black tank top!

 {JCREW EMBROIDERED ROPE TUNIC}

Yep I am already thinking about beachwear.  I love a good cover-up and this one is on the top of my list.

{LEE BROTHERS CHARLESTON KITCHEN COOKBOOK}

I love the Lee Brothers in a major way.  I am so pumped about their new cookbook.  They shot scenes for the cookbook right here in Charleston which is pretty cool.  How cute are they?  Plus their recipes are awesome (I own their first two cookbooks).

{GAP PRINTED CANVAS TOTE}

I just adore this stripped Tote for the summer.  Such a chic beach bag for a great price!  I can never have enough totes, I use them all the time.  If you order today you get get 10% off with code TUESDAYS:)

Lastly, Shopbop's Spring Shopping Event starts today you can save some major money!

Thinking it is a good sign I need to finally make these mine, I have been eyeing them forever!

Rachel Pally Cut-Out Dress || Joie Sable Slides || Twelfth Street Mini Tank Dress || Ray Ban Original Aviators || Adia Kibur Clear Stone Statement Necklace

So, Ladies seriously check out Shopbop today and take advantage of this Spring Shopping Event!

Rug Loving.

I have wanted a new rug for our dining room forever now.  We used to have a seagrass rug in there that we had to toss because it was covered in so many stains.  Seagrass rugs are a bitch to clean y'all.  It will be awhile til I put one my house again, I love the look but they show stains so easily!  So for almost a year now we have had no rug in our dining room.  It just felt bare to me.  So I was thrilled when Rugs USA offered me a rug for my house.  I knew I wanted it for our dining room.  Problem was narrowing it down.  That site has so many fabulous rugs.  

I eventually decided on the Beaumont Adileh In the Spruce color.

I love the worn in look.  It is one of the softest rugs ever.  I love that in some lights it looks grey and in others it looks blue.  It is not as bright blue as the picture above, it is more subdued.

I really am smitten with the rug,  I can't say enough good things about it.  It makes me happy everytime I walk past the dining room.  RugsUsa has great customer service and they ship quickly as well!

A few of my other favorites from RugsUSA.  I think all of these rugs are an additional 50% off with code MID50 right now! The prices are incredible!

{Winsdor Elmas Overdyed Rug}

This rug comes in so many fabulous bright colors, would be fab in a playroom or a kids bedroom

{Rugs USA OverDye Bone Rug}
I want this rug for our bedroom, adore it!

{Satara Edison Nickel Rug}
A great neutral rug, that really could work in any space.

{Montero Plymouth Rug}
This looks like a cool Persian rug to me, love the pink color.  Would be such a statement piece in a bedroom or den.  It comes in 3 other colors too.

{Zebra Cowhide Natural Rug}
I have wanted a Zebra rug like this for as long as I can remember. Need this one in my house!

{Tuscan Modern Moroccan Shag Rug}
Because I still love a Moroccan Rug.

If you have not already you must check out the RugsUsa website, it is filled with thousands of amazing rugs!   I know I am thrilled with mine!

Thoughts For Friday

Thank God for the weekend!  After being so sick last weekend and then tending to my little man who also caught the stomach bug I am ready for a fun weekend with no illness (praying Matt doesn't get it, hoping he is in the clear since he hasn't caught it yet).  We have no big plans but I am looking forward to some quality family time!  I can't wait to hit up the drug store and buy some of the great stuff you gals recommended!

Last week I stumbled upon the most genius food invention ever, Brownie Brittle.  Have you guys tried this stuff?  It is amazing.  Tastes just like a brownie but it is thin and crunchy.  I was skeptical at first but it knocked my socks off.  Buy some you can thank me later or hate me later when you eat the whole bag.

My Forever 21 Dress came in the mail and me likey.  For the price it is a great maxi.  I highly recommend, for all you locals it is not in the store I checked you have to order online.

{F21 Tribal Maxi}

Thanks to one of my readers, Chrystal from Its Fairly Obvious, for recommending Oribe Texturizing Spray.  This stuff works wonders.  I spray it in my hair before I curl or straighten it and it gives it so much more body and it smells amazing.  It is not cheap but I promise it is worth the money.  It serves kind of as a dry shampoo as well as styling agent- double bonus.

For some reason I decided to DVR The Making of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue.  If you really want to feel bad about your body just watch this (haha).  And sadly I was eating the mini Cadbury Eggs while I watched it,  which made me feel even worse, I kept thinking put the eggs away look at these skinny girls they don't eat cadbury eggs.  The girls were stunning,  bodies and faces.   In all honesty it was actually kind of an interesting documentary.   Lets discuss Kate Upton's Boobs- there is no way these are real, right??

This beauty is on its way to me.  Thank Jenny Andrews for making incredible art.  You guys should check out her Etsy shop HERE.  I love all her work!  Thinking I am going to hang it in our den.

I could not resist this shirt at JCrew for Sterling because well lets face it, he is a real heartbreaker.  Its on sale now too:)  For any of you curious about sizing I got him a 4/5 and it fits pretty well with a little room to grow.  Tell me this is not the cutest thing you have seen?
{Heartbreaker Tee}

I have convinced myself I need a tortoise shell ice bucket.  I saw a picture somewhere of one filled with pink flowers and I loved it.  Then I came across this picture on a bar cart and I love it too!

I did a little researching and found this super affordable one at Nordstrom (Matt a great birthday idea would be to buy this and fill it with pink flowers for my birthday).  This would be such a fabulous house warming gift as well.

{Turtoiseshell Ice Bucket}

Love this quote, something I have been reminding myself alot lately.

Have a great weekend friends!