July Favorites

August 2, 2020 Ashley Skaggs

I’ve decided to try something new! A monthly recap of my favorite things I’ve encountered in July. Let’s get started, shall we?

The Babysitter’s Club

The Babysitter’s Club on Netflix has been my favorite, favorite show adaptation I’ve come across in a while. I adored the books growing up and begged my grandmother to buy me new ones every weekend at the used bookstore in town. And the styling and costume design is A+++, with plenty of homages to my beloved nineties (Alicia Silverstone!!!) The twins and I flew through all ten episodes and I’m so excited to see what comes next.

And did I immediately go on Etsy and order the twins’ Claudia’s watermelon earrings? Most definitely. And if you want the full experience, The Bookshelf, a sweet bookshop in Thomasville, Georgia, is offering a The Babysitter’s Club online book club experience. I missed out on the first round but I’m seriously considering joining the second round starting in September!

To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before Series

Thanks to the awesome ladies at Read It or List It Podcast, I am now an avowed Peter Kavinsky-stan. Yes, I know, I JUST now read To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han. It’s about time, right? I inhaled all three of the Lara Jean books within a week and I’ve promised myself time out to finally catch the movies on Netflix. In the meantime, I had to have chocolate cake with peanut butter frosting with Reese’s Pieces, just like Lara Jean’s recipe in P.S. I Still Love You.

Jenny Colgan’s Newest Release

Speaking of things I love like cake, Jenny Colgan is one of my fave British authors for closed door romance. My husband and I adore Scotland after visiting in our early twenties, and especially Loch Ness in the Highlands. Most of Jenny Colgan’s romances center on this gorgeous village that is near the Loch and her imagery is spot-on—I always feel like I’m right back there alongside the protagonists. Her newest novel 500 Miles From You is my favorite of hers yet. She’s really grown into herself as an author and I’m so enjoying the journey!

DIY Cupcakes from The Chocolate Moose Bakery

The decorate your own cupcake kit from The Chocolate Moose Bakery was the PERFECT way to spend a hot afternoon. Highly recommend!

Lightning Round

Just quick fire links to lovely things.

She-Ra is fabulous and fabulously gay and it makes me so happy!

Tula Sunscreen is my go-to this summer.

I made Chrissy Teigen’s spicy miso spaghetti every single week of July.

I don’t think there’s been a Jeni’s Ice Cream collection I’ve wanted more than this one!

So what do you think? I really, really want to share here more and I would love for anyone to let me know what you’d like to see!

Lilies

May 31, 2020 Ashley Skaggs

When your sister makes you the most beautiful floral arrangement with some of your favorite flowers, you make sure to take way too many photos of it.

Sweets from The Chocolate Moose

May 22, 2020 Ashley Skaggs

I think everyone needs a little sweetness in their life right now, don’t you?

The Season of Process: A Cozy Winter Mantle

November 24, 2019 Ashley Skaggs

Sometimes the process is easy. You have a vision in your head and you execute it and everything works out for the best. Most of the time for me, I have no idea what I want until it all comes together.

What I knew I wanted: something cozy and neutral that would work with the existing palette of our living room. I knew I wanted to incorporate this vintage plate with a winter scene. I knew that I wanted brass candlesticks and wooden candlesticks. I knew that my large white mirror would work well to build on. Other than that? I had no idea where this was going.

The best advice I can give as a creative is to keep bringing things together until it clicks. I found this yarn at a craft store and it looked like the perfect readymade tree garland. The organ music came from a small shop in Taylors, South Carolina. It didn’t end up in the final iteration of the mantle because I used it elsewhere (stay tuned!) but it helped to invoke the feel I was going for…vintage and classic but decidedly more organic than traditional.

The cedar wreath was the best I could find and came from Joanna Gaines’ Hearth & Hand line at Target. I secured the plate in the middle by using floral wire attached to a plate hanger. The large pinecones were at our grocery store and all the ribbon is vintage (I collect it!)

This birch garland is all the rage on Instagram but I couldn’t leave well enough alone and had to make it a bit more original. I painted it with this pearlescent paint in a white opal color way, to add a bit of sparkle.

Ultimately, I could not have done this without inspiration. The Ballard Designs catalog had a simple cedar wreath hanging in the center of a mirror on a wide ribbon which I recreated. And I watched endless Instagram stories in an attempt to perfectly hang my garland on the mantle without damaging it (command hooks and floral wire! Who knew?!)

But it was really Kristen of Ella Claire Blog that I truly owe so much to—especially her mixing of faux garland and fresh eucalyptus on her family room mantle that I couldn’t wait to recreate. The eucalyptus adds so much depth and was only $6 from Trader Joe’s—inexpensive enough that I don’t mind switching it out every few weeks until after Christmas. It smells lovely and looks so full and lush and I cannot recommend this method enough.

I couldn’t really decide on one stocking to represent the Parker Five so instead I chose several! The boys gravitated towards the large knit ones and Rhiannon, my animal lover, immediately claimed the faux fur stocking on the end. Aria, who is such a design-guru already, loved the diamond pattern on her stocking and Isla, possibly the most easiest going big sister ever, was fine with her choice. I found the initial ornaments at Walmart of all places and they match perfectly.

My trick to hanging the pinecones? Plant hangers screwed into the end and some vintage ribbon. That’s it!

The texture and richness of so many layers together really activates the cozy vibe for me. I love the effect of the asymmetry of the candlesticks and the garland. I love how there are only three colors but because they are in such diverse fabrics and mediums, it all feels cohesive. And I love the sparkly, battery-powered fairy lights—a fabulous Amazon find!

I don’t know about you, but sparkly wood next to a navy velvet ribbon speaks to my design soul.

I’m almost ready to show more areas in our home as I finish up our Christmas decorating but I was so happy to finish this mantle that I now get to enjoy by the light of Hallmark Channel movies.

Vintage Pickin' in Greenville, South Carolina

October 26, 2019 Ashley Skaggs

Vintage Pickin’ weekend has come and gone and I have to admit, I’m a little sad. I was so excited to meet everyone and see all the amazing vintage styling inspiration (and shop of course!)

The highlight of the weekend was meeting Liz Marie Galvan of the fabulous Liz Marie Blog and having my copy of Cozy White Cottage signed! She was so incredibly kind and spent time getting to know (and hugging!) each person, which made it an exemplary meet-the-author experience.

The Christmas vignettes were my favorite and I can’t get over how creative everyone was! Naturally, Christmas is my absolute favorite time of year so I was inspired to go home and order a few Christmas trees. Or three. I’m thinking the twins’ definitely need a white tree for their room to go with their American Girl doll trees, yes?

That amazing sled looks familiar, right? A similar one pops up every Christmas at our house for our family photos and now I’m totally going to make it into a holiday decoration this year, too.