Kate Spade Home

Kate Spade Home by morganwmynatt

Kate Spade wall light | Kate Spade rose rug | Kate Spade kitchen dining | Kate Spade gold home decor | Kate Spade holiday decoration | Kate Spade home decor | Kate Spade chair

Favorite Fall Finds

Fall is my favorite time of year. From football - our home away from home - to the crisp fall air, boots, and most importantly pumpkin spice lattes, this is the time of year that feeds my soul.

As we begin to make our house more of a home, I have started to incorporate some fun fall finds into our decor, plus as many "fall scent" candles that I can find. (I have a serious problem - candle addict)

I've included my favorites below:

The Rustic House - Harvest Candle

Football Signs - Kilbi Branch Designs

Shelf Sitter Turkey - Kirklands

Pumpkin Garden Flag - Ace Hardware

Booties - Steve Madden

DIY: Desk to Bar

We received some great glassware and other bar accessories from friends and family leading up the wedding, and I hate that I've had to hide them in kitchen cabinets (where storage is already limited). So I've been keeping my eyes open for the perfect piece to refurbish into a bar... and I finally found it! Patience pays off.

This little gem of a secretary desk cost me just $35 on one of those community Facebook yard sale groups.

We have dark floors and dark furniture, so I knew I wanted to lighten this piece up to add some much needed contrast, and with the veneer on the front not in the best shape, I decided chalk paint would be my best bet.

I found a more affordable version of chalk paint, Craie de Terre (legitimately $12 for a huge mason jar), thanks to a friend who'd done her research at Four Seasons Vintage here in Knoxville. I decided on sage, a barely there green that almost could be white.

I picked up some new knobs for $5 at Hobby Lobby and some $6 contact paper at Lowes and got to work!

Before I started cleaning, I decided it would be best to knock out this shelf on the inside, to make more room for glasses. With the help of a hammer and flat head screwdriver, we were on our way to  a bar!

I started with the drawer first, painting it, changing the knobs, and lining it with marble contact paper. 

Then I gave the desk two coats of the chalk paint, but decided to keep the inside of it the original dark stain. 

I am really happy with how this project came out, and for under $60 we have a great new piece of furniture, that is functional for us right now, and can easily be used for something else down the road. 

When I said I do...

Tomorrow marks three weeks since the day we said "I do" in front of God and our family and friends, and we got our photos back yesterday! This was the most joyful day, and JOPHOTO captured the essence of that perfectly. We had a slew of vendors who brought our vision to life of a classic southern wedding that ended with a party with those we are closest too.

I'll share pictures from our ceremony and reception in the coming weeks...

I, Dustin, take you, Morgan,

as the wife of my days

and the friend of my life. 

I promise to have the

patience that love demands,

to laugh with you in times of joy,

comfort you in times of sorrow,

to love you unconditionally

and without hesitation.

To take you as you are,

loving who you are now

and who you are yet to become.

With these words,

and all the words of my heart,

I marry you and bind my life to yours.

I, Morgan, take you, Dustin,

as the husband of my days

and the friend of my life. 

I promise to have the

patience that love demands,

to laugh with you in times of joy,

comfort you in times of sorrow,

to love you unconditionally

and without hesitation.

To take you as you are,

loving who you are now

and who you are yet to become.

With these words,

and all the words of my heart,

I marry you and bind my life to yours.

Venue: Magnolia Plantation & Gardens | Photography: JOPHOTO | Event & Floral Design: MOD Events | Rentals: Snyder Rentals | Bridal Gown: Moonlight Bridal Couture | Groom & Groomsmen Attire: Jos. A. Bank | Maid of Honor Dress: Jovani | Bridesmaid Dresses: Bill Levkoff

Where's Grace?

Did you hear? Another "lunatic" shot innocent people. Again.

My heart aches for the victims, their loved ones, but my heart also aches for the shooter. Can you imagine living life with that much hate in your heart?

Every time this happens the same words are used: "terrorism" - "senseless" - "tragedy". The real tragedy is that we are too busy standing on our facebook status soapbox, playing games on our phones, or even binge watching a series on netflix to notice one simple thing: the person standing next to us.

When did we become a country that cares more about money than fellowship with our neighbors? A nation that cares more about having our opinion heard than working towards one common goal? A nation that care more about what car we drive than protecting our citizens?

You know what's funny? When true tragedy affects us personally - then we step up. Not when we see a child crying, or a mom ravaging for food in a dumpster, or an elderly person struggling to walk across the street - we don't step up then. But if a family member dies, a child is diagnosed with a deadly illness, or a friend suffers a tragedy - then we want everyone to help us, when we couldn't be bothered to help them.

We stopped seeing the good in people, but worst of all we stopped seeing the good in ourselves. We are better than our current circumstances. But we have to care more about the betterment of the future as a whole, rather than our individual needs.

I believe that people are inherently good. I believe that at the core of us, we have the ability to love more than we ever thought possible. I believe that we imitate behaviors - good and bad - of the people we surround ourselves with, but I also believe that it takes just one person refusing to be a part of the cycle to make real change happen.

It doesn't mean we'll always get along, or always agree, if that were the case life would be pretty boring. But it does mean we respect our neighbors, we love them in spite of differences, we let them know that regardless of the situation - we have their back.

No one ever became poor by giving.

Motivation

Challenge: Writing

In grade school I always made good grades when it came to writing, and for the most part in college too. Although, I did leave Dr. H & Dr. A's classes in tears on occasion. 

But I don't think that I ever truly pushed myself to be a better writer, and I quickly took on the mindset that I wasn't a good one. However, I was smart enough to ask for help, and thanks to a book my boss gave me, I now realize that "great" writing has far more to do with the process than it does with the words you put on the paper. Don't get me wrong, that is still VERY important.

Everybody Writes by Ann Handley can give even the most apprehensive writer the confidence to tackle any assignment.

There are two things from this book that truly changed my perception and my writing.

1. The Ugly First Draft

• I have a confession, unless required by school, I (used to) never write a first draft. *GASP* I'm probably the minority when it comes to this, but it's true. As a teacher's kid. I could spell and use proper grammar, before I probably needed to, and I would develop that information as I went and then review one time and wash my hands of it. In Everybody Writes, Handley encourages you to go against this conventional style and

2. The Writing GPS

• I won't give everything away, because that's Handley's job, but I will say that this section of the book helped me to see what my writing was missing. I was having a hard time seeing the holes in my content, and it was like a light bulb went off after reading this chapter. 

If you want to be a better writer, or if you're just feeling uninspired about it, I encourage you to delve into this book. I promise your writing won't be the same and your content and your audience will be better for it. 

Write on,

M