Lifestyle

How I Find Fitness Motivation

Ever since I was in high school, I’ve had this constant feeling of “I need to workout” practically every day. Back then though, I was more motivated by physical benefits. Now that I am older, my mindset has shifted and I look forward to the mental benefits way more. I notice that my mind and life feel cluttered and out of control if I do not fit in my daily exercise, even if just a walk through the neighborhood. A couple of months ago, I got into a steady workout routine that I looked forward to each day. At the beginning of May, that all kindof went downhill once I took a trip to the beach, followed by a trip to the Bahamas, and then a few days in Charleston. Traveling and holidays are what really gets me out of my groove when it comes to sticking to an exercise routine.

How cute is this RDU hat I found The Local Squirrel in Cameron Village? They also have “919” hats along with the cutest accessories, decor, jewelry, gifts… pretty much everything and each item is so unique.

Over time, I’ve found ways to get that motivation to focus on my fitness and health and I wanted to share them incase you’ve been needing a boost!

Journal your thoughts after each workout.

A couple of months ago, I started writing down how I felt directly after each workout and I noticed that there were common themes each time such as “mental clarity” and “positive energy”… both things that are necessary for me to have a productive day. Once you’re reminded of all of these benefits by seeing them actually written down, it’ll change from something you dread to something you look forward to. You can easily just jot these down in your “notes” section on your phone if that makes it easier.

Do it for those who can’t!

This is probably my biggest motivator. I always think about people who physically are not able to run or lift weights due to health issues and how they wish they could. Be thankful for your health and ability to exercise each day. The biggest way to change your mindset for almost anything in life is to put yourself in someone else’s shoes.

Try group fitness.

These days, there are countless group fitness classes to join whether you enjoy cycling, yoga, or barre. Lately, I’ve found that I can workout at home for a while as long as I hear someone talking to and encouraging me; however, I still get that desire to workout with people every now and then. When I’m lacking motivation, sometimes it’s best to just show up to a class. Even a fun bike ride through the neighborhood with TJ the other day made for some enjoyable exercise.

View it as your ‘thinking time’.

If you’re like me, you might have 7000 things on the brain at any given moment and in order to sort all of it out, it’s good to have time to yourself to sort them out so that you can actually think. To me, I’ve found that the only way for me to do this is while I’m working out. For me, it’s the best way to start the day before I open up apps/check my email/etc.

Keep it exciting.

After a while, your routine might feel a little dull and that is when it’s time to do something different just once even. When my at-home Tone it Up workouts get old after a while (which truly doesn’t happen too often surprisingly), I drive out to a park, take a new class, go on a bike ride, or just go to the gym for a change in scenery. It gets me back on track and makes fitness feel fun again.

Now, about this nice ride! The other weekend when I wasn’t feeling my regular at-home workout, TJ and I drove to a nearby park to run. At the time, we were test-driving a car for Land Rover Cary… a Range Rover Evoque. I’ve posted about several Land Rover models in the past but what I loved specifically about the Evoque was the size and sporty feel of it. The MSRP is actually surprisingly much lower than the full size Range Rover, starting at $41,800. Fun fact: it also comes in a convertible…. my dream car, for sure.

Anyways, we hopped in the car, drove to the park, and decided to just go on a run for a change. It was nice to switch it up and it helped me remember that even just a little exercise does wonders for my mind and body.

Happy Friday! We don’t have too many plans but to stay around here, maybe go to a local festival. I’ve been wanting to book a flight to see my family up in RI so I’ll probably figure out all that and just spend time enjoying the first weekend of summer!

This post is sponsored by Cameron Village and Land Rover Cary.

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Lifestyle

06.19.18

A Better Way to Buy and Paint Your Dream Home

This post is sponsored by Opendoor.

A question I’ve been asked a lot lately on Instagram has been “what paint color is that?” whether it is a photo of the bedroom, living room, or even our old apartment (which I have yet to figure out, unfortunately). Picking out paint colors can be a fun process or it can be a not-so-fun process because of how many different colors there are to choose from! It can be overwhelming if you let it be but there are also a few steps I take to find the perfect color easily. For example, I’ll use Pinterest to begin my color inspiration search. Next, I’ll go pick out a few paint swatches that resemble the look I’m going for. I’ll usually get a few samples in addition to the swatches (you can get a tiny container of any color paint for about $3) to test out on the wall. I’ll also tape the paint swatch in that same area and spend a few days figuring out if I really like it depending on the different lighting throughout the day.

I’ve partnered with Opendoor today to share 5 paint colors that I’m absolutely loving and which rooms I think they’d be perfect for. If you haven’t heard of Opendoor before, you might want to listen up if you’re a future home-buyer or seller! The idea behind the company is pretty cool.

If you live in one of their markets, you’ve probably driven by blue signs in front of homes for sale that say “Opendoor”. If you are a buyer, you are able to take advantage of their “All Day Open Houses” to visit homes you’re interested in on your own timeline, between 6am-9pm and instantly unlock them using the Opendoor app (iOS or Android). This makes it super convenient for those who work a not-so-flexible job but know how competitive the entire home-buying process can be. If you are selling your home, you can enter your address on the Opendoor website and they aim to make an offer on your home in 48 hours. Opendoor will actually buy the house from you so you can skip the hassle of listing, showings, and months of uncertainty! Opendoor also lets you choose your close date to simplify moving on to your next chapter. Basically, Opendoor simplifies the home selling and buying process (and yes, you can still use your regular agent). There was actually a home in our neighborhood that was on the market for weeks, and finally, the seller found out about Opendoor and requested and accepted an offer, and now potential buyers can visit the home on their timeline. The entire process is really interesting and I spent an hour reading all of the FAQ’s the other day because it was just so intriguing to me.

Opendoor recently estimated that homeowners in the Raleigh-Durham area spent more than $300,000 on beige paint last year. That’s a whole lot of beige… which, to me, can get boring. Which brings me back to my current favorite paint colors… let’s start with a good living room color.

We painted our living room in Repose Gray but I found a lighter version of it that I absolutely love just as much called Glacial Stream (both SW). I love these grays specifically because they aren’t too blue, purple, or beige… they’re the perfect neutral gray that you won’t get tired of! Such a classic color for any room, actually.

We painted our bedroom with Lapland Ice (SW) and it has since become one of my favorite paint colors I recommend to others. Why? It’s a calming and relaxing grey with a hint-of-green color that brightens up a room and reminds you of a coastal cottage. It’s so serene and is perfect for a bedroom or bathroom where maybe you want to add a bit more color.

Ultra Pure White, Snowbound, and Oxford White: These are my favorite whites, in order. Ultra Pure White is the cleanest and brightest white I have found and am most likely going to paint my office with soon. I also came across Snowbound and Oxford White which aren’t quite as bright as Ultra Pure White but they still have a very clean look to them. Sometimes white paint is just the way to go, especially if you’re going for a minimal look. I’m thinking of painting our dining room white as well as my office.

This one is much different than what I typically go for, mainly because it is a pink shade, but it would be perfect for a half-bath, a nursery, a girl’s room, or a fun office statement wall… even bathroom cabinets. It is a very subtle pink with hints of grey and is so beautiful and serene with a feminine feel.

One day I would love to paint our guest bathroom cabinets in this color! It’s so beautiful and, while it is a “gray”, it has some color and personality. It almost has a periwinkle feel to it. It also would look good against white crown and floor moulding because of the contrast. I can also see this looking good as bottom kitchen cabinets.

That’s it! My current favorite paint colors. We’re in the process of figuring out what to paint our kitchen cabinets and I can’t wait to share with you what we pick. I think I’ve chosen one and it isn’t included in the above! Do you have any favorite paint colors?

Thanks for reading! If you’re interested in learning more about Opendoor, you can watch the video below or read the FAQ’s here.

xo, Shelby

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Uncategorized

06.15.18

7 Summer Dresses You’ll Love

Off-the-Shoulder Eyelet Midi Dress || Nude Ankle Strap Heels || Circle Straw Crossbody Bag || Wide-Brim Fedora

I feel like this week has gone by fast! My week technically didn’t start until Tuesday since we were celebrating our anniversary in Charleston for a long weekend so I guess that’s why…. Also, have you read the Top Recommended Restaurants in Charleston? Warning, it’ll make you hungry and want to book a trip asap.

Anyways, this weekend is pretty busy over here. On top of Father’s Day, I have a 10-year high school reunion… what? I feel old. I’m also going to be finalizing our kitchen plans. My goal is to renovate our kitchen during the summer/early fall (by Oct/Nov) but we will see how that goes. When we moved into our home, I knew our kitchen would be the biggest project. I want to remove some cabinets, paint other cabinets, replace countertops, replace stovetop, add a sliding barn door over our pantry, create a breakfast nook… it’s a beast. Although this weekend is busy, I’d love to have some time to just do some reading. I’ve noticed that my mind is more creative when I set aside time for it to relax and do things that are not blog-related. On June 22nd, it’ll be 6 months since my last day my full-time/corporate job and oh how I’ve learned so much in those 6 months of self-employment… I’m actually thinking I’ll write a post about it all.

Anyways, I am rambling on about 5 different things so let’s just get into why I originally came here… to share 7 summer dresses I think you’ll love and why!

Off-the-Shoulder Eyelet Midi Dress (also available in white)

I love this dress, especially for the weekend. It’s so easy to throw on and instantly look like you’re ready for a chic summer day. I am wearing the XS but wish I had ordered the S due to the elastic on the shoulder area. I love that is comes in white too, so if you are more of a neutral girl (or even a bride), this will be your go-to.

Textured Square-Neck Mini Dress

This is a newer one I’ve found and I typically stay away from the more form-fitting dresses but there was something about this one that I couldn’t resist… I think it’s the texture and the thick straps. This dress is surprisingly very comfortable and I love tying shirts over top of it to get more outfits out of it. It’s definitely very summery and I probably won’t wear it past September but, for this season, it is perfect (can be dressed up or down). I’m wearing the S.

Eyelet Halter Swing Dress

If you buy any dress out of these 5 options, I’d say this one is my #1 favorite for a few different reasons. First of all, I love anything with a high-neck… I think it is just so flattering. I also really don’t enjoy wearing normal bras… I’d wear just a bandeau every day if I could. With this dress, since it is loose around the body, I feel like I can get away with a comfy bra that doesn’t have thick padding/underwiring. And lastly, aside from it being light-weight yet lined (very well made), the eyelet hemline is simply gorgeous. This might be one of my favorite dresses from Loft, ever. Get it while it’s 40% off!

Signature Soft Pocket Tee Dress

I’ve worn this same dress (just in different colors) on here at least 5 times in the past. They seem to come out with new colors each season but it’s a staple for Lou and Grey. There is nothing easier than a tee dress and this one is the softest ever made. It is also available in a really pretty light grey/white currently (also 40% off this weekend).

Turquoise Maxi Skirt (kindof a midi skirt)

While this might not be a dress, I couldn’t not include it. I’ve worn this thing as a swim cover-up in the Bahamas and explored the streets of Charleston with a basic white tee. It’s more of a splurge piece than what I typically go for but every now and then it’s nice to treat yourself to something this beautiful! The colors, the flowy detail, the tie waist… everything just spoke to me so into my shopping cart it went. I’m wearing the 0. Also, it looks like a wrap skirt but it’s really not… it won’t swing open like a lot of wrap skirts do. It’s incredibly well-made.

White Overall Dress

I think I’ve posted this on Instagram about 7 times. It is just the best because you can wear a different shirt with it each day and have it look like a totally different outfit! By far, one of my most worn pieces this year. If your size is sold out (they frequently restock), I’ve found the same one available here for 40% off!

Chambray Midi Dress

I have grown to really love anything by Free People over the last year or 2… and while it isn’t the cheapest, it’s the comfiest! I love this dress so much because of how flowy and lightweight it is for summer, but also because it’s super comfortable to travel in the heat with. I’ve taken this to both the Bahamas and Charleston and felt confident and comfortable in it. The bra situation is a little tricky since the back goes a bit lower than you’d think but I wore a nude/mauve colored bandeau (a sticky bra would work too).

I think that is enough for now. I hope you all enjoy the weekend!

xo, Shelby

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The Carolinas

06.12.18

The Most Recommended – A Quick Charleston Restaurant Guide

Free People Butterflies Chambray Midi Dress || Perforated Slip-on Sneakers || Circle Straw Crossbody Bag || Brixton Joanna Straw Wide-Brim Fedora

TJ and I just got back from a mini getaway to Charleston to celebrate our one year anniversary and we had the best time. I wish we could have extended our stay but it’s time to get back to reality. For those of you who are new here, my husband, TJ, and I got married in Charleston last June so we decided we’d head back there this past weekend, stay in a hotel we had never stayed in before, try some new places to eat, revisit our wedding venue, and just enjoy a couple of days away as oldie-weds… that’s what happens when you’re no longer a newlywed, right? Also, when are you technically not a newlywed?

Anyways, we went into our trip with no set plans of where to eat so I enlisted my IG-story watchers to let me know of their most recommended dining spots and I was excited to see all of the responses ranging from previous travelers to Charleston/Mt. Pleasant locals. Whether you had been there once, multiple times, or called it your home, you guys are some serious Charleston foodies. I wanted to share the knowledge so I compiled a list of every single recommendation categorized by price-point! I put an asterisk beside the name whenever it was recommended multiple times. Now I just need to figure out a way to get back down there so I can try all of these!

*UPDATE (April, 2019): I created this mini guide below of my personal recommendations to narrow things down a bit but I still have so many to try so keep the recs coming and I’ll update this post as time goes on.

Hall’s Chophouse***
(a premier fine dining steakhouse on King St. featuring live music every night and soulful ‘Gospel Sunday Brunch’)

Peninsula Grill*

(part of Planter’s Inn on Market St. and serving southern dishes and famous layered coconut cake with a beautiful courtyard dining space)

The Ordinary
(an old bank turned Southern Seafood hall and oyster bar on King St.)

Stars Rooftop Bar & Grill
(a rooftop bar and American grill on upper King St. with seasonally inspired cuisine)

FIG
(an upscale bistro setting serving southern classics/local neighborhood vibe)

Husk********
(award winning chef, centrally located, southern ingredients.. definitely the highest recommended to me)

Hank’s Seafood Restaurant*

(best seafood in Charleston for 18 years, overlooking Charleston City Market)

167 Raw
(cozy and casual serving oysters, lobster rolls, fish tacos, & more)

Trattoria Lucca
(Italian eatery on a quiet corner in downtown)

Magnolias***
(upscale southern cuisine located on East Bay St.)

82 Queen
(an intimate courtyard with your favorite southern dishes located on Queen St.)

Nico

(an upbeat oyster bar serving French food located in Mt. Pleasant)

5Church
(a former church turned into an American dining experience downtown)

The Macintosh
(a farm-to-table restaurant with a menu rooted in the South and located on King St.)

O-Ku
(a sushi bar serving Asian cuisine w/ a southern approach on King St.)

High Cotton
(a family owned and operated low country favorite on King St.)

Slightly North of Broad*
(modern/eclectic, southern, low-country fine dining on East Bay St.)

Fulton Five
(Italian dining in a romantic vine-covered setting downtown)

39 Rue De Jean*
(French classics in a vibrant setting)

The Darling Oyster**
(a personal favorite of mine located on King St. serving seafood dishes in the most darling setting)

Butcher & Bee
(local ingredients, seasonal cuisine, served in a hip environment)

Minero***
(inventive Mexican dishes in a brick-walled eatery on East Bay St.)

Rutledge Cab Co.
(American comfort food in a casual setting with a covered patio)

Poogan’s Porch**
(traditional Southern cooking in an old Victorian house with an iconic front porch)

Cru Cafe*
(some of the best gourmet comfort food in the Lowcountry)

Goat. Sheep. Cow., North*
(European-style wine bar and cheese shop serving sandwiches and salads)

Indaco
(a rustic Italian eatery on King St. with handcrafted pastas)

Edmund’s Oast*
(New American fare in a hip spot serving beer brewed on-site)

Grace & Grit*
(locally sourced seafood and grits right over the bridge in Mt. Pleasant)

Amen Street
(oyster and seafood restaurant in the heart of downtown with an upscale brick-walled environment)

Basic Kitchen**

(Clean, nourishing, and energizing grain/veggie bowls, breakfast, and sandwiches in a beautiful but casual environment)

Fleet Landing
(southern seafood staples with a waterfront view)

Leon’s
(a relaxed oyster bar and seafood favorite in a rustic setting)

Five Loaves Cafe*
(a local cafe with 3 locations serving soups/salads/sandwiches made with local ingredients)

Huriyali
(a relaxing and nourishing spot for smoothies, salads, acai bowls, & more)

Miller’s All Day***
(one of the highest recommended restaurants for breakfast/brunch that opened less than 2 years ago)

OTHER FAVORITE COFFEE/BAKERY SHOPS:

The Harbinger Cafe & Bakery****

The Rise

The Daily

Second State Coffee

Brown’s Court Bakery

* = came extra recommended/from many people

Thanks to everyone who sent their favorite restaurants! I can’t wait to get working on trying more of these out. I did want to make a shout-out to a few newer options in Charleston. Parcel 32 opened ONE week ago and came highly recommended. Millers All Day was a frequent morning stop during our quick weekend trip and I would highly recommend (it just opened 3 months ago!). Lastly, we rode our bikes through the rain to try out Basic Kitchen to find out that they didn’t serve dinner on Sundays. However, that is on my must-try list for next time because their menu speaks to me on so many levels.

Did I miss any of your faves? Leave them in the comments with your favorite thing to order!

xo, Shelby

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Space Styling Guides

06.06.18

12+ Summery Art Prints for the Home

If you’ve seen any photos of our home decor on here before (or #PITPhome) you might have noticed that I tend to decorate spaces with art prints more often than not. My favorite piece of decor is a beautiful framed photo filled with landscapes that inspire me or remind me of places I love. If you look even closer, you’ll find that almost all of the prints in our house include some element of nature whether that be the ocean, flowers, greenery, animals, lakes, etc. I am constantly inspired by nature and keep that in mind whether we’re planning any big trip or even just designing a space in our house.

Lately, I’ve been on an Etsy kick and have found so many beautiful prints that you can download for a very low price, get printed by an online printing company (I personally have always used this company), and then frame in whichever frame you want. My favorite place for frames is usually Homegoods/Marshall’s/TJ Maxx but I’ve also seen amazing prices at Michael’s. This is the budget-friendly way to go but, if you want to splurge, Minted also has beautiful art options, as seen in our living room gallery wall.

Click the images below to shop some of my personal favorites!

In My Cart:

*Photos shown above are clickable.

I love each and every one of these and I hope this is somewhat helpful if you have a space you’ve been thinking about decorating. I like to switch it up a bit as the seasons change. If you have any questions or need help organizing a gallery wall, don’t hesitate to ask!

xo, Shelby

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Caribbean

06.04.18

Our Stay at Baha Mar

A couple of weeks ago, TJ and I spent 5 days in the Bahamas, home of the prettiest water ever, and I’m already wanting to plan another trip back. This was our first time visiting these islands and where we stayed was one of the newest resorts on the island of New Providence in Nassau… Baha Mar. Back in June of last year, we were flying back from our honeymoon in St. Lucia and I remember flying over the Bahamas and thinking that I had to visit during the next year simply due to how beautiful the water was from my view in the sky.

We had a great stay and today I wanted to break down the different parts of the resort, in case you’re also planning a visit sometime! While I was there, so many of you sent messages about you wanting to plan a winter trip to the Bahamas and some even had already booked a trip to Baha Mar, so let’s get into all of the details! If you’re interested in what I packed, you can read all of that here.

Transportation

One of the first things I loved about this resort is it’s close proximity to the airport in Nassau. In fact, this is the one of the main reasons we wanted to visit this location. We wanted a quick and easy tropical getaway since it was planned with not much notice. When we arrived to the airport, we had a driver waiting for us to take us 10 minutes down the road to Baha Mar. This is a service you can request through the resort but it made everything so easy and smooth. Our entire travel experience was really easy, actually. We only had to fly to Atlanta and, from there, it took less than 2 hours to fly to our destination. The ease of traveling is one reason you might just want to plan a trip to the Bahamas. It’s just so close to the US and, while there are so many islands within the Bahamas to choose from, we chose one of the easier ones to get to. Next time, we’ve already decided we’ll want to visit Exuma or Eleuthera.

The Property

Baha Mar is a beautiful resort that has a lot to do and see… it’s huge. I’ll get more into the food later in this post but we had over 15 restaurants to choose from, 7 pools to sit by, 3 different hotels within Baha Mar including Grant Hyatt (where we stayed), SLS Baha Mar, and Rosewood, which just opened the day we left actually. The resort even has the largest casino in the Caribbean right in the center of the two Grand Hyatt towers. We saw people of all ages enjoying various amenities of the property including families with kids, bachelorette parties, couples trips, and more. I do think that this place would be the perfect place for a group of friends wanting to get together for a weekend trip. Each pool had a different vibe… there was one with a cave and aquarium where people could jump off a platform into a deep end, there was one pool with a DJ and a swim-up bar, a pool that was more quiet but still playing chill music, and the list goes on. You could also order food at several of the pools. At the colorful pool near SLS, I ordered their fresh fruit platter and it was so refreshing and convenient not having to leave the pool for food.

The grounds were kept beautiful with lush landscaping, tropical plants lining paths leading from one pool to the next, and my favorite spot was the pier. We spent so much time walking up and down the pier at the crack of dawn and in the evening watching sea turtles and other animals swimming around underneath. The resort is also right on the beach which is where we found the guy who took us out for a boat ride (Bahama Adventures… you’ll see them in the red shirts right in front of the resort next to Baha Mar). Captain Sony took us out for a 2 hour ride to wherever we wanted for not too bad of a price. If you do visit Baha Mar, I’d recommend having one morning or afternoon to go out to another island. The Bahamas consist of 700+ islands so it’s really a unique place. There are several excursions you can do that vary from a couple hours, half day adventures, or take up the whole day (we didn’t have the time to do that this time) but if you speak to locals, they’ll tell you where to find the most gorgeous water and all of the animals which seem to be popular.

One important, but random, thing to note is that TJ and I both were very impressed with the number of restrooms located along the property. You never had to wait for a bathroom, there were some right near every single pool, and they were all designed to look like cute little striped cabanas. Plus, they were insanely clean at all times!

We also definitely noticed a huge difference in how crowded everything was on Sunday v. Monday… if you have the luxury to visit on a week day rather than the weekend, do it!

The Room

First of all, our room was beautiful… white, clean, sophisticated, marble bathroom, view of the island, and we had a pretty standard room. As mentioned above, we chose to stay in the Grand Hyatt because that one looked to be the most affordable and we knew we wouldn’t be spending much time during the day in the room anyways. As you move up to SLS, the prices get a tad higher but the rooms look like they’re even more luxurious. As for Rosewood, which just opened a few weeks ago, you can stay in a villa. At first, we weren’t used to staying in such a large hotel (we stayed on the 17th floor… but the elevators were oddly fast and we waited a max of about 10 seconds.. TJ’s fave part), compared to where we’ve stayed in the past, but the entire resort is kept super clean, and the room was very nice. Our room faced Paradise Island so we had the most incredible views of the sunrise each morning. One thing that I will mention, the balconies were not the most private. You could see your neighbor’s balcony and, in some cases, you could reach over and touch the railing.

The Food

The resort has over 15 different places to eat and that doesn’t even include all of the bars and lounges. We tried out several of the restaurants including Cleo (Mediterranean… try their hummus and rice!), Stix (a noodle bar), Fi’lia (Italian.. Order their caesar salad that they make right in front of you), Conch Shack (fresh conch salad down by the beach/pools), El Jefe (a pink Air-Stream turned margarita and burrito truck also down by the beach), The Palms (a delicious outdoor spot as you walk down the beach), and Cafe Madeleine (a cafe that I became obsessed with). Cafe Madeleine was where we spent most of our meals… I ordered the avocado toast that came with a side salad at least 3 times. Their lattes were also on point. Overall, the food and drinks are pricey at Baha Mar (not all-inclusive) so just come prepared for that. However, once we found Cafe Madeleine, we found it to be pretty reasonable and very similar to the vibe we enjoy (an outdoor covered patio with a French feel). One other thing to note is that most of the restaurants do not take cash and you’re kind of expected to charge everything to your room and pay when you check out. The food was pretty delicious though! If you have any more questions I can answer, please don’t hesitate to ask!

We first arrived to Baha Mar at 8:30pm so we spent that first night walking around the resort and figuring out where all of these different places to eat were. You definitely are never going to run out of options here, but you can read more about them here.

The Spa

I was so excited to book a foot massage experience at the ESPA spa (located in the center of Grand Hyatt about 7 floors up). On the spa menu, I specifically booked the ‘Pied A Heaven’ for 60 minutes and it was incredible. I was so relaxed afterwards that I could barely move… it felt so amazing and I’d highly recommend for a truly calming escape. Plus, the service was some of the best. My masseuse was very friendly and I enjoyed talking with her about life lol. She even mentioned she used to live in NC while she was getting her license! The entire spa is beautiful and you’ll also find a fitness center within it.

Overall, our stay was very nice and Baha Mar is a beautiful resort with a lot of options for dining and enjoying the Bahamas for a few days. I do think that next time we’ll want to try visiting another island to see more of the Bahamas since so many of the locals I met recommended Harbour Island, Exuma, and Eleuthera. However, I know that may involve more traveling and might not be quite as convenient. The convenience to getting to Baha Mar was one of the highlights, in my opinion. Also, it’s just the beginning of this resort. Word on the street is that they’re going to be adding a ton of new shopping and even possibly a water park (according to our sources aka driver to the airport). If you enjoy large resorts that offer a lot of things to do, eat, and enjoy during a tropical getaway, Baha Mar is your place.

This post was written in partnership with Baha Mar.

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DIY Projects

05.30.18

Eating Clean with Summer Herbs

If you’ve followed Pretty in the Pines lately, you probably know that our most recent home improvement project was fixing up our outdoor space. It was very much needed and now that we’ve spent so much time out there this spring, I’ve had some time to think about what to fill the empty spaces on our deck. We had a big space of wall showing (behind our living room fireplace) that I decided would be the perfect amount of space to add an outdoor serving cart.

Outdoor serving carts can be used for so many things: parties, entertainment, landscaping tools, plants, and so much more. A trend I’ve seen a lot on Pinterest lately is using an outdoor serving cart to place small plants… specifically, herbs. That way, you can roll it inside when it gets cold again. Anyways, I was excited to partner with Harvest Organicsto bring this idea to life! When planting with the Harvest Organic Garden soil, you’re planting with “clean” dirt, making sure everything grows without added chemicals, pesticides, or preservatives. This has been a concern of mine lately, since we’ve been doing so much cooking with herbs. I’ve wanted to grow herbs and vegetables for a long time but didn’t want to eat so much of something that could potentially be unsafe. When I was introduced to Harvest Organics, this made me feel a whole lot better about eating what I grow. Plus, their tagline is “Don’t Just Garden, Harvest” because Harvest turns waste into organic gardening products that then feed the earth to create a more sustainable planet. By using this soil, you become part of #TheHarvestEffect, a movement to reduce waste and replenish the earth. Plus, I know I mentioned this once before but we live right near a huge landfill and it has really made me think more about these types of ways to help reduce waste.

For our herb cart, we only needed a few essentials. After ordering the actual herb cart, we took a trip to Lowe’s to pick up the Harvest Organics Potting Mix, herbs, and a few other flowering plants I couldn’t resist! I already had a bunch of tiny pots to plant the herbs in and I just used my watering cans for a practical decoration.

It didn’t take too long to set up and now I’ve been craving all sorts of pasta salads and summer recipes where I can incorporate basil, thyme, lemon balm, parsley, oregano, etc. You can follow all my recipes on my Pinterest page. I’m pretty sure I covered most of the basics! It makes it a lot easier having all of these right outside on my deck rather than driving to the store.

I love how this has filled that empty space on our deck. If you want to create one of your own, there are a bunch of inexpensive outdoor bar-cart options available! I’ll have to do a round-up of all of my favorites sometime soon!

Happy Thursday!

Xo, Shelby

This post is sponsored by Harvest Organics.

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05.29.18

A Favorite Local Spot for Jewelry

While in the Bahamas, I felt like I had packed pretty lightly but there were a few summer accessories I couldn’t leave behind: mainly hair accessories & statement earrings. There’s something about summertime that makes me want to wear the brightest, most unique earrings. Give me all the beaded hoops and colorful tassel earrings and my vacation look is complete!

Back when I was in college at NC State, I would stop by this little shop, Charlotte’s, in Cameron Village anytime I was looking for jewelry. Charlotte’s carried some of my favorite jewelry designers and still do to this day. Plus, you can find a lot of under $100 pieces that will last a long time. When I stopped in a few weeks ago, I picked up a pair of earrings for Mother’s Day but also found a couple of fun statement earrings that I could wear through the summer. I took them with me to the Bahamas and they took every outfit up a notch.

How beautiful are these?!

If you’re looking for higher quality statement jewelry or even clothing, accessories, cards, shoes, gifts, and decor, I’d highly recommend stopping in to Charlotte’s next time you’re ever in Cameron Village. They have huge cases of a variety of styles that you’ll have a hard time choosing from like I did… I wanted it all! Not to mention their SHOES.

This post is sponsored by Cameron Village.

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05.28.18

Memorial Day Weekend Sales

shop outfit here

I hope you all have had a great Memorial Day Weekend. I think the world would be a better place if every weekend included Monday. I’m extremely grateful for those who have served and sacrificed their own lives for our country… as I get older, I become more grateful and there are no words to thank these heroes enough.

I’m using today to get some work done, relax, get back on the healthy eating train, and just catch up on emails since it’s quite rainy outside. We did just get back from a run in the rain and it felt so nice… I haven’t ran in months.

Anyways, the main reason for this post is to share some of the good sales going on this weekend. I know I mentioned I’d post them earlier but life got in the way. There are a few great ones though, including the Nordstrom Half Yearly sale which I posted more about here. If you have any trips coming up, you can find swimwear up to 60% off here too!

xo, Shelby

Top Finds:

LOFT || 40% off Full-Price Styles and Extra 50% off Sale Styles

Nordstrom || Up to 40% off though June 3rd (see a more detailed post here)

West Elm || up to 30% off with the code: SAVEMORE

J. Crew || 40% off your purchase + free shipping (code: GETAWAY)

URBAN OUTFITTERS || extra 30% off ALL sale items

& a few more…

ANTHROPOLOGIE || Extra 40% off sale items & 20% off full-price decor/furniture

OLD NAVY || 50% off almost everything

BAUBLEBAR || up to 70% off

shop outfit here

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05.23.18

Tropical Striped Jumpsuit

Striped Jumpsuit || Woven Circle Bag || Ankle Strap Heels || Twist Headband

We got back from the Bahamas late last night around 2am and, while it was so beautiful there, I’m happy to pick up Colbie this morning and get back into my routine! We had a great time there (our first time visiting the Bahamas) and I’ll be sure to share more about the resort we stayed at early next week. The resort was unlike anywhere I’ve stayed before, especially size-wise. Everywhere you turned you’d find a new pool or a new restaurant. Anyways, I’ll save all the details for next week but today I wanted to share with you a striped jumpsuit that I packed with me and absolutely loved.

SHOP:

I’m all for comfortable clothing; however, of course I want to look put together and comfortable whenever possible, especially when I’m at a resort and around a lot of people. I picked up this striped jumpsuit from Urban Outfitters before we left and I was surprised at how many times I wore it… I wore it one night as a chic dinner date look and another day as a swim cover-up! For the more dressy look, I tied a belt around the waist and wore some heels. I even wore it during a nap one day and considered wearing it as pajamas. The jumpsuit has pockets and a wide-leg fit which makes it extra comfortable.

I brought along this affordable woven circle bag which matched perfectly. If you’re looking for a smaller sized crossbody bag for the summer without spending over $35, this one is a great choice! It’s definitely smaller but fits all of the essentials inside.

I’m excited for the weekend although we don’t have too many plans. I think that makes me even more excited actually. We may go to a family cookout but that’s about it! I’ll have some time to unpack, get my life in order, clean up the house, and rest.

Check back tomorrow for some of the best Memorial Day Weekend sales!

xo, Shelby

This post is sponsored by Urban Outfitters/Reward Style.

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In My Suitcase

05.21.18

What I Packed for the Bahamas

Bikini Top || Bikini Bottom || White Wrap || Foldover Clutch || Tortoise Cat-Eye Sunglasses || Twist Headband

TJ and I have been in the Bahamas since Saturday night and I plan to post a review of the resort we’re staying at next week! However, since Memorial Day sales are coming up and I’d be sad if everything sold out before I could share it, I wanted to post what I packed for our trip. While almost everything I packed is striped, I think each piece is different in it’s own way and most of it is under $100. I do have to say that the one item that has come most in handy here has been this headband. My hair has been so frizzy and windblown so adding one of these has helped me not look like a total mess.

Most Used:

Striped Kimono || Ruffle Plunge One-Piece Swimsuit || Colorblocked Tote Bag || Lux Twist Headband

Anyways, I packed a few different swimsuits: a teal plunge neckline one-piece with ruffle cap sleeves, a super affordable halter one-piece, this ruffle high-waisted bikini, and a striped one-piece from a boutique back home. I found this under $50 cover-up from Free People and it’s been probably the other item that has come most in handy (also comes in three colors). When I was searching for sarongs, I had a hard time finding decent ones that weren’t outrageously expensive so I picked up this wrap/scarf last minute to use as a sarong or lightweight wrap. I’ve been wearing this sunscreen non-stop since I accidentally got sunburned in the Outer Banks last week and I’ve been staying make-up free for most of the time except for this mineral foundation.

SWIMWEAR:

ACCESSORIES:

CLOTHING:

I also found a beautiful maxi skirt from Anthropologie but, unfortunately, I can’t seem to find it online yet. As soon as it’s up though, I’ll post it because it is so unique and perfect for summer.

Earlier today, we found a guy with a boat who is going to take us out on an morning adventure tomorrow. We basically wanted to see more of the Bahamas and fly the drone on a deserted island, so, when we saw a random man on the beach with a boat, we had to ask! It should be interesting. I also had the best foot massage (well, actually the only foot massage now that I think about it) of my life today at the resort spa. I was so relaxed afterwards I could barely function. It was a spa success! Tomorrow (after our boat ride) we’re probably going to spend most of the day on our computers in the cafe catching up on work.

I hope you all have a good week! I’m excited for the Bachelorette to start back in a week!

xo, Shelby

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Gift Guides

05.18.18

A No-Fail Father’s Day Gift Idea

Before we know it, it’ll be June and although we just finished celebrating Mother’s Day, we really only have a few weeks until Father’s Day! Over time, I’ve gotten a lot better about planning ahead for these types of holidays and trying to put a little more thought into each gift while leaving enough time so that I’m not rushing at the last minute. Two gifts I’ve noticed that never fail are… photos and experiences. I guess photos are just memories of experiences but they seriously are always so special to give and receive around holidays! I’m so excited to partner with my favorite photo printing website, Snapfish, to show you a few gift ideas that you can create for any upcoming holidays, but especially Father’s Day.

As most of you might know, I got married last June. It was the best day and it would not have all been possible without the love and support of my mom and dad. Dance lessons with my dad leading up to the wedding were some of my favorite moments and he was such a big part of the entire wedding weekend, making sure everybody had a place to stay in Charleston and always putting others’ needs first. He was actually a little bit late to our pre-ceremony photos because he was making sure all of his siblings had arrived safely and, although I wasn’t super thrilled he was late, I know that he was just taking care of others. Anyways, I wish he could have been in these photos but he’s on the opposite side of the world for two weeks in Malaysia for work. So, Dad, if you’re reading this, don’t peek any further!

I can’t tell you all how many Snapfish orders I’ve placed in the past. Whenever I’m searching for art prints to hang in my house, I will usually order the digital files to be printed at Snapfish. It saves so much money and there is always some sort of promo code to help out! I’ve also gifted TJ, my husband, a calendar including photos of us last Christmas. I’ve printed a lot of photos of our past vacations to be framed in our home. And, for this Father’s Day, I decided to create a photo book for my dad including some of my favorite photos of us from the wedding along with a personalized mug he can take to work with him.

The photo book is probably my favorite because it’s something that will last forever and just live on the coffee table in their living room making it a great conversation piece too for when we all get together. It will also be really fun for him to turn through all the pages and be remembered of the weekend when all of his family was together now that’s been almost a year! Snapfish also has different “themes” you can choose from when designing your photo book, depending on what the occasion is. They have a specific Father’s Day theme that includes fun dad phrases like ‘Best Dad Ever’, beachy themes, wedding themes, and more. You can also get your photos printed on cards, magnets, phone cases, puzzles, aprons, fleece blankets, and so much more! Now that I think about it, maybe I should have ordered him a pillow with a photo of Colberson, his grand-dog.

I also created a big photo mug featuring three of my favorite photos from the wedding… one of us dancing, one of him dancing with my mom, and one of him and my two sisters. I think he’ll really love it. To complete the gift, I put together a basket featuring a few other items he’ll love like golf balls, his favorite tomato juice ‘Garden Patch’, and I may even include some other regular size photos I printed from Snapfish.

If you’re thinking about gifting anything from Snapfish for Father’s Day, you can use the code GIFT4DAD for 40% off sitewide through 6/30/18. Even if you just need some new prints for around your home, you can’t find better prices and quality than Snapfish… you can see my latest bedroom art prints I ordered in one of my recent instagram photos.

Happy Friday!

xo, Shelby

This post is sponsored by Snapfish.

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