House Hunt Update

Sweater / Leggings / Sneakers
This is from outside of a house we viewed and liked yesterday! But, it did not have the best yard for Val!

Hiiiii!!! Thank you all so much for the love and support on our moving news. I wanted to give y’all a little update with where we are now with our move and house hunt. I shared a little bit about how easy our movers made the process for us, and how they packed and unpacked EVERYTHING into our rental… we didn’t even have to unpack one box. The whole move itself was so smooth, and since then, apartment life has been just as seamless.

We have truly enjoyed our two bedroom, two bath rental. I have definitely learned that I can live with A LOT less… For example, we do not feel crowded or stressed at all downsizing from 3,000 square feet to a 1,200 square foot apartment. We have realized that our next house needs to be somewhere in the middle!

I also thought that we would really miss our old house location. We lived in the Dilworth neighborhood of Charlotte, which is a fun neighborhood close to Southend and Uptown Charlotte. I thought we would miss walking places, but it turns out that we walk to way more restaurants and do so much more where we are currently renting. So, we have expanded our house hunt location!

Lastly, we were so afraid that Valentine (our giant Newfoundland dog) would be crammed in an apartment and not get enough playtime or energy out. It has been the total opposite! Valentine has made so many friends in the dog park and gets way more playtime and walks than ever before. It has been so good for him to socialize with other dogs outside of the pups he grew up with at his daycare! Valentine loves apartment life. BUT… A nice, big yard for Valentine is still on the top of our house hunt list ;)

For all of these reasons, we slowed down our house hunt… actually we pretty much never *seriously* started! We were instantly comfortable and happy here. I think it is partly because we never lived apartment life, and went straight to living in our previous house that came with a lot of responsibility and upkeep. BUT, we do not want to stay here forever (and can’t! we didn’t sign a year lease!) so recently we have been on the hunt again.

I will update you all on here with our house hunt progress- and don’t forget to keep up with me on Instagram stories! I will try to post stories when we look at houses. Love you all, and thanks for taking the time to read my blog posts!

Xoxo, Olivia

We Sold Our House!

Hiiii guys!!! I have missed the blog! I am so excited to be giving you a little life update! Here is the story of how we sold our house and what’s next for us.

Photos by Demi Mabry Photography

You probably already know this from Instagram but…. WE SOLD OUR HOUSE!! It has been a crazy last few weeks. Brenton and I have been talking about listing our house for the past 6+ months and finally decided to just do it. We worked SO hard to get our home list ready. I told Brenton if we were listing it, we were doing it right!

So, we had a painter come and touch up every spot on the wall that was covered in Valentine’s slobber (Newfie owners feel me on this, haha). We had our backyard spruced up with new plants. We had the house cleaned and cleaned and cleaned…. We had a stager come and put furniture on our fourth floor that we never used (it was totally empty… too much house for us)! We cleaned out and organized every single closet and every drawer so that everything looked perfect. Our two car garage went from looking like an overpacked storage unit to completely empty. Throughout this entire process, Valentine stayed at his “camp” (that he LOVES) so that nothing would get dirty or out of place. I’m a little bit of a perfectionist, haha.

Finally, it was time to take photos and list the house! We lucked out with an amazing home photographer. We took the photos on a Thursday, and listed the following Saturday evening when we got the photos back. We had our first and ONLY showing first thing the next morning…. and a full price offer was sent to us early that afternoon. With a 30 day close. WOW!! That happened fast. We were overjoyed! Of course, we accepted. Shoutout to my mom, who happens to be our realtor and listing agent, for getting us a full price offer in under 24 hours. (I linked her Facebook business page, or you can reach her at jdryejewell@gmail.com if you are interested.) People thought we were crazy for our list price, but I’m so glad we trusted her and went for it.

After accepting the offer, we immediately started looking at our next steps. We knew we had to get a rental, because our plan is to renovate a ranch a little farther out of the city with a big yard for Valentine. Once we signed the lease on our rental, we got another offer from the buyers. They wanted to buy a good amount of our furniture, art, and rugs. Shoutout to Maggie of Crandall Haus for making it look so good! We let them know how much we would take for the items and they accepted. Now, we had to find a temporary sofa! Haha. This all just seems so crazy typing it out. Our friends were selling a brand new Pottery Barn sofa, so we lucked out with that. Thanks Tanne & Karrah!

Next came the big move. All I can say is thank goodness for Honeycutt movers. They packed our WHOLE house up last Thursday, moved half of it to storage and half to our rental on Friday, and unpacked every box in our rental for us on Saturday. To top it all off, they came back this week to hang curtains and art for us. They are such hard workers, so reasonable, and so GOOD at what they do. I cannot believe I found them from a Nextdoor post. Charlotte people, if you are moving, call Honeycutt. This is NOT an ad. Brenton can tell you… we paid for it, haha.

So, we are all caught up! We closed on our house today, and are continuing our house hunt for the perfect ranch! We are so thankful for how smooth this process was and for all of the people who made it that way. I cannot wait to take you on the journey of our house hunt and future renovation! We took these photos with Demi Mabry Photography so that we could remember our first home together, where we brought Valentine home, and where we came home as a married couple. So many good times in this house. Feeling overwhelmingly thankful today. Cheers to the good times ahead!

Wish List: For The Home

I love decorating our home! It is so much fun to look for things to fill all of the different spaces. When we moved into this new place last summer, we didn’t bring ANYTHING! Not one thing! We hired Maggie from Lucy & Co to do our living room, dining room, and master bedroom. But, I still like doing some random things myself. I’ve learned that it takes a lot of time and patience to fill every space. There are still so many items that are on my wish list for the house, and I have slowly been checking things off the list. Here are some of the items that are still on my wish list!

*Click text link or image for product page!*

Anthropologie White Dipped Ladder / $98. I am planning to purchase this ladder for the master bathroom!! It is almost identical to this $348 white dipped ladder from Serena & Lily. Since when does Anthropologie make these affordable pieces?! Loving it!

Anthropologie Storage Bath Caddy / $148. I am getting this caddy (eventually-lol) for the master bath as well! I think it will add something extra to the space.. and you can fill it with your favorite candle and bath accessories. 

Anthropologie Blue Marisol Pillows / $98 each. I love these pillows for the master bedroom!! I am hesitant because I love to find a deal, but I might go ahead and pull the trigger on these because I haven’t found any that I love more!Slide View: 2: Marisol Pillow

Anthropologie Chevron Hand Towel / I am planning to get this for our powder bathroom downstairs! We have fun blue printed wallpaper in that space, and this towel will accent the walls perfectly.

Pottery Barn Moroccan Twist Fireplace Screen / $199. We are planning to get this fireplace screen for the fireplace in our living room. I can’t wait! I think it will really make the room look more complete. I also like this $78 option from Joss & Main.

Minted Anemone Art Print / $ depends on size. We are putting this piece over the fireplace in our dining room! I’m so excited to see this hanging. I am all about all blue everything! "Anemone" - Art Print by Denise Wong in beautiful frame options and a variety of sizes.World Market All Weather Wicker Outdoor Chair / $199. I have been eyeing these chairs for so long.. I need to just go for it! I would love to have these as an addition around our outdoor fireplace or by the “spa” area. They look so similar to these $600 West Elm chairs!

Pier 1 Hanging Chair / $249. One more thing I would love to have outside is a hanging chair! This would look perfect in the corner of our covered porch. I’m not sure how functional these are, but they are so cute! From what I have seen, this one is a great price.

That is the majority of my wish list! There are more accessories that I have in mind, but I change my mind on those on a daily basis. What is your approach to shopping for your house? Do you like to do everything at once, or slowly finish each space?! Would love to know your thoughts and tips!! Xoxo, Olivia

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Video: My Favorite Smoky Eye Look

Hi guys!! SO sorry it’s been over a week since I’ve posted! I’ve been working on something a little different for this post. I’ve gotten a lot of questions about the smoky eye look I do for a night out, so I thought I would upload a little video on how I do the look. This is in no way a tutorial, I just thought it would be easier to explain the steps and products that I use in a video. I’m also writing out all the steps and linking all of the products below!! Let me know what you guys think!! This is my first time making a video like this, so I promise I will get better with the editing ;)

1.) Before I started the video, I applied my Ultra Repair Cream Moisturizer, Hourglass Dim Light Corrective Primer, and MAC Painterly Eyeshadow Primer.

2.) I used the original Naked Palette on my eyes. Eyelid color: “Gunmetal” using my favorite MAC 217 eyeshadow brush. Outer corner color: “Creep” using my Sigma E55 eye shading brush.

3.) I blend the two colors together with my Sigma E25 blending brush.

4.) After I’m done with my eyeshadow, I apply Christian Dior Airflash Foundation in color “Sand” with my amazing Tarte airbrush foundation brush (this can be used with all types of foundation and is the best foundation brush I have ever used!)

5.) Next, I use NYX Born To Glow Illuminator in color “Pure Gold”. I apply it with my fingers on my cheekbones, tip of my nose, and my top lip!

6.) After I’m done with all my liquid and cream products, I apply Becca Soft Blurring Powder in color “Golden Hour” with my Sigma large powder brush. This is like wearing a filter in real life- ha!

7.) In the video I use my Dusty Rose MAC eyeshadow palette in color “Cool Compliment” with an angle brush to fill in my brows. You can use any eyebrow tool! I also like this NYX cosmetics brow pencil.

8.) Next I do my eyeliner! I use my IT Brushes angle brush to apply MAC fluidliner gel eyeliner in color “Blacktrack”. I also found this gift set including the MAC fluidliner + an angle brush for under $30.

9.) Finally it’s time for bronzer! First I use Benefit’s Hoola Bronzer with my bronze and contour brush by Tarte. I use the same brush to add a little bit of color with Bobbi Brown’s Illuminating Powder in “Bali Brown”.

10.) After I put my bronzer on, I use MAC’s Mineralize Skinfinish in “Global Glow” as a highlighter. This is what makes the whole look pop! I like to use this $8 sheer powder brush from EcoTools to apply it.

11.) Next I apply L’Oreal Voluminous Mascara in “Carbon Black”. You can buy this at any drugstore or Target!

12.) Lastly, I do my lips. I apply my all time favorite lip pencil by NYX cosmetics in color “Natural”. I top it with MAC’s nymphette lip gloss! This is the best lip combination EVER!

And that’s it!! I do not do this look often.. only for fun occasions or going out on a hot date! Let me know what you think of my video and smoky eye how-to! Xoxo, Olivia

Paradise Island: Recap & What I Wore

Hi everyone!!! I’m so happy to be home and writing about our trip to the Bahamas. We stayed at The Cove Atlantis in Paradise Island. I’ve been here twice before- but it was Brenton’s first time! We had some windy and rainy weather for part of our trip, so The Cove was perfect because there are so many things you can do inside and on the resort.

When we got there, we went STRAIGHT to the pool!!! I could not wait to soak up the sun. I wore my new $11 bikini from Shein and loved it. I sized up to a large, so if you order it keep that in mind! After exploring the beach, we decided to go get dressed and explore the resort. I couldn’t wait to see everything since it had been so long since my last trip there. I wore this $16 similar white sweater and my favorite jean shorts! (pictures below)

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The next morning, we woke up and went straight back to the pool. This was our best weather day! It was bright and sunny even though the wind was SO CRAZY. We were not allowed to get in the ocean the whole trip because the wind and water were so intense and dangerous. BUT we still explored the beach and enjoyed ourselves! This whole trip I wore these 2 for $12 sunglasses. I got so many compliments! I also wore my favorite swimsuit of the trip- this studded triangle bikini top with these ruched cheeky bottoms. (pictures below) That night we went to NOBU for the best sushi ever, but didn’t get any pics! I wore this sassy flouncy dress :)

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Our second morning was so nice and lazy. We slowly made our way out to the pool on the windiest day. We were ready for some adventure, so we rode on the Rapid River (it was so rough!!) and Brenton did one of the big slides. After that, it was time for more pool drinks… lol. I wore this $11 bikini that is currently sold out, but this $12 striped suit is very similar! (pictures below- sorry for the quality lol) That night we went to Cafe Martinique and had an amazing dinner with even better drinks! And ordered dessert and decaf coffee to the room after. YUM.

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We had a rainy day on our last full day, but it was probably one of our best! It was so much fun. We braved the weather for a while before going to explore stuff inside the resort until the sun came back out. I wore this turquoise triangle bikini at the pool, and a similar knotted black skirt with my new Gucci bag to explore.

Sorry for the picture overload! I’m a creature of habit when it comes to traveling; I like to stay at the same places that I know I like. We had a great trip and I’m so glad we went! I think for the next tropical trip I will branch out and go somewhere new! Where are your favorite warm weather getaways?! Let me know in the comments! Xoxo Olivia

Tara Grinna Bikinis

Hello sunshines!! This past weekend we went to Charleston for a few days of fun in the sun. Brenton was actually originally planning to propose Saturday (before he decided to do it in Disney), so he had a few fun things planned for me- including having me pick out a beautiful new purse.. I can’t wait to show y’all which one I chose!

It was a gorgeous weekend in Isle of Palms, and we spent most of it relaxing by the pool and taking walks on the beach. I know… sounds SO cheesy.

A little bit about the bikinis before I dive in to pictures!! Both bikinis are by Tara Grinna Swimwear. I LOVE her bathing suits! They are the highest quality suits I have ever owned. The fabric they use is Italian and it is so buttery soft and beautiful. It also doesn’t pick or pill, so you can wear it by the pool with ease. I love that they offer different styles that range from full coverage to a little cheeky. I definitely have some curves and love having the option of looking cute and sassy but still covered. I also love that all of their swimsuits are made in the USA!

One more thing… I do NOT think I am a bikini model!! I just wanted to share a brand that I love and believe looks great on all different shapes and sizes. Love you guys!! Xoxo, Olivia

Colorful Barceloneta Slider Top / I wore this in a size C! This one is true to size and you can wear it a bunch of different ways!

Barceloneta Side Ruched Bottoms / These are so flattering and offer great coverage! I wore a size 6 which I would say is equivalent to a small/medium.

Black Keyhole Halter / I am wearing a size C. I LOVE this top, especially for days when you don’t want too much sun on your chest.

Black Platanos Tie Side Bikini / I am wearing a size 6. I love this bottom! It is slightly cheekier than the ruched bottoms, but still nothing near Brazilian. I am thinking about buying this black and coral bandeau top to mix and match with these bottoms!

P.S. Here is how I styled my bikini on the way to the pool Saturday! I love to throw on a white T Shirt and my favorite jean shorts over a bikini. So easy and cute! Details below.

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Chan Luu Wrap Bracelet / Diff Eyewear Sunglasses / It Cosmetics 50 SPF CC Cream / Favorite Denim Shorts (size down) / Guanabana Similar Wayuu Bag

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World Market Finds & Favs

Hi friends!! I wrote about some of my World Market favs in my Outdoor Inspo post a few weeks ago. Since then, I’ve gotten so many goodies from them, and have even more on my wish list. I love the high quality they offer at affordable prices… and how World Market is always on trend. You get the high end feel with HomeGoods pricing. Win-win!

*Click the images or text links for product page!*

What I have purchased so far:

Blush Verona Tumblers (set of 4). $15.96. My favorite purchase from WM has to be these tumblers. My Nana had a beautiful collection of blush colored depression glass, and anytime I see a set like this it reminds me of her. I was about to purchase 8 of these $10 tumblers from Anthropologie when I decided to search for a cheaper alternative at World Market. I am so glad I did! They are beautiful. I purchased two sets of 4.

Blush Verona Tumblers Set of 4

Indigo Blue Ombre Ceramic Spoon Rest / $6.99. Matching Ombre Utensil Holder / $14.99. I love this set!!! It looks so cute on my kitchen counter top beside my stove. I have tons of wooden blue spoons in the canister and it looks great against the neutral backsplash in my kitchen. I feel like these look SO much more expensive than they are! $22 for both… can’t beat it!

Indigo Blue Ombre Ceramic Spoon RestIndigo Blue Ombre Ceramic Utensil Holder

Indigo Blue Enamel Salad Servers (set of 2) / $12.99. These are some of the spoons I have in the ombre utensil holder! They are so stunning in person!!! They definitely look like they could have been purchased on some exotic vacation or something- lol.

Indigo Blue Enamel Wood Salad Servers Set of 2

 

Brass Geo Terrarium size Medium / $29.99. I have this sitting beside my ombre spoon rest and canister! It is so pretty!!! I am so in love with how it adds a little bit of a funky twist to my kitchen countertops.

Brass Geo Terrarium Medium

 

Mini Succulent Cement Pots (set of 4) / $15.96. I have one of these in the medium sized brass terrarium. It is definitely the best looking fake succulent I’ve seen. Others can be sooo fake looking and cheesy. These are so cute!! I love adding a little greenery to my kitchen… even if it is fake! Ha!

Mini Succulent Cement Pots Set of 4

Faux Cacti in Cement Pots (set of 3) / $20.97. I have one of these on the other side of my stove by my knives, cute little beach print, and a different brand ombre vase. They have the option of only buying one in store. It is so adorable!!! If I had the set of 4, I would definitely stick the others on shelves and bathrooms throughout my home.

Faux Cacti in Cement Pots Set of 3

White Lotus Capiz Tealight Candleholder / $7.99. I have one of these on the built in shelves in my kitchen! I have lots of blue vases and silver frames on them already, so the gold and fun shape really adds so much to the shelf.

White Lotus Capiz Tealight Candleholder

Black Graphic Woven Indoor/Outdoor Rug (I have size 8×10) / $359.99. Let me just say, we purchased this rug before it was even on sale and it was worth every penny!! It is so incredibly gorgeous. We have it in our semi-covered porch outside and it is holding up really well. This would also be perfect inside because it’s not too stiff. BONUS- it’s made out of recycled plastic bottles, so it is eco-friendly!

Black Graphic Woven Emerson Indoor Outdoor Area Rug 8' x 10'

What’s on my wish list:

Wood Pillar Candleholder size Medium & Small / $12.99 & $14.99. These say gray online, but they are equal parts destructed brown wood in person. I should have grabbed them in store!! They are soooo dreamy! I want them in size medium & small on both ends of my mantle.

Gray Wood Pillar Candleholder

5 Ft Faux Fiddle Leaf Fig Plant / $129. This has such good reviews and I have been wanting it for the corner of my living room. It has such great reviews and I think I will finally take the plunge! It’s amazing what a pop of (faux) greenery can do to a space!

5 Ft Faux Fiddle Leaf Fig Plant

Large Black & Neutral Seagrass Calista Tote Basket / $39.99. World Market had the most gorgeous basket selection when I was there a few weeks ago. I am going to order this one for the file leaf fig plant!

Large Black and Natural Seagrass Calista Tote Basket

Gray Woven All-Weather Wicker Outdoor Chair / $199. I would love two of these chairs to add to our backyard! They are so similar to these West Elm chairs that are $549 each.

Gray Woven All Weather Wicker Andalusia Outdoor Chair

Let me know what you think & if you order anything from World Market- I would love to see & hear what you think! Xoxo Olivia

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Engagement Outfit Details

Happy Monday!! If you follow me on Instagram, I’m sure you know that Brenton and I got ENGAGED last week in Orlando, FL! A full blog post is coming about our engagement story, but I have gotten so many questions about my outfit details that I decided to share where everything is from.  I got sooo many compliments on this outfit even before we got engaged! Feel free to ask me any questions about size and fit. Outfit links below, and keep scrolling for more pics!

Forever 21 Wrap-Front Maxi Skirt / $24.90. This skirt is adjustable and so flattering!!! It definitely looks way more expensive than it is! I’m wearing a size small.

Free People “Falling For You” Tube Top / $38.  I love this top so much! It is super flattering  too… and you can’t tell, but it has a linen texture and some light boning to make it supportive. I am in a size small.

Similar Chunky Black Lace Up Sandals / $139. My exact shoes are sold out, BUT I will let you know if they come back in stock. They are from the brand HINGE at Nordstrom and were super affordable. I am loving this similar option!

Tara Grinna Colorful Cindy Clutch / $50. I have gotten so many questions about this clutch!!! It is even more gorgeous in person. They also have it in this amazing color combination.

Twine & Twig Black Bracelets / $55. Twine & Twig Blue Cuff / $18. Gorjana 5 Disc Choker Necklace / $55. Anthropologie Issa Hoop Earrings / $38.

T3 Micro Convertible Curling Wand / $270. This is what I curled my hair with that night!!!  I used the large barrel and I love how it gives the perfect beach wave. I know it is pricey, but it comes with three different wands, and it curls my hair better than any iron ever has!

 

Fitness Favs

Hi, everyone! I promised myself that I would get back into a regular fitness routine in 2018. I have done a good job (so far!) of working out at least 4-5 times a week. Even if the workouts aren’t super intense every day, I feel so much better when I sweat a little bit and get up and active! Today I’m sharing my favorite athletic clothes and gear- from sports bras, to socks, shoes and accessories!

Nike Swoosh Medium Support Sports Bra / $25-35. RUN don’t walk to order one of these sports bras!! They are my absolute favorite.. hands down. I have two colors and am about to order another. Depending on the color they are on sale between $25-35!! That is such a good deal. I ordered both of mine for $40 each. This sports bra is flattering, supportive, and comfortable. I wear it in a size medium!

Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 34/ $110. I have both of these color combos and love them so much! This is a very supportive shoe. I order a half size up, which is what I always do with Nike sneaks. They are so comfortable and I will continue ordering these over and over! Don’t forget with an all black shoe you HAVE to wear black socks!!

Zella 3-Pack Tab Back Socks / $25 for 3 pack. Which brings me to my next point…. these athletic socks are the BEST!!! I have them in both the black and white. I wear them with my athletic shoes and with my every day booties, boots, sneakers etc. You will not regret ordering these- they stay up, look good, and prevent blisters!

Nike Free RN 2017 / $75. I cannot believe these are on sale for $75!!!! This is my second favorite running/athletic shoe. I have 4 different colors!!! They are so comfortable and really great for any activity.

Zella Live In High Waist Leggings / $54. These are hands down my favorite leggings of all time. Not just my favorite high waist leggings, black leggings, long leggings…. my favorite EVER. They are so flattering and comfortable for working out… and let’s get serious, I do some major lounging in these leggings too! They have over 3,500 reviews online and 5 stars for a reason. I have had these for 3+ years and they are still in excellent condition. TRY THEM!

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GapFit Breath Long Sleeve Top / $21. My friend Liz turned me on to these tops!! They are so soft and the fit is unreal. She told me that she likes them just as much as her Lululemon tops- which is saying a lot from her!!! I love to wear these tops when I’m working out indoors and want to break a sweat, or if I’m going on a walk outside or running errands. Order one and give it a try!!

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GapFit Breathe Open-Back Tank / $21. If you follow me on Instagram, you know about my obsession with this top!! It is a nice high neck in the front and you can tie it in the back. I love it because it let’s some air in when you are feeling SO sweaty (ew…sorry??)! It looks so cute with the Nike Swoosh bra slightly showing in the back. You can also leave it untied and open. I will definitely be ordering more of these tanks!

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Bose Soundlink On-Ear Bluetooth Wireless Headphones / $219. I know these are a splurge, but they are so worth it if you have been looking to buy a pair of nice headphones. They easily connect to my phone and my iPad, and the battery lasts for weeks!! They are also really comfortable and of course Bose offers the highest quality headphones out there. If you’ve been thinking about splurging on headphones, these are it! They are also really cute ;)

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iPad Air with Wifi / $175. I love to use my iPad Air while I am on the treadmill to watch Hulu! It makes the time pass so quickly. I found this 16 GB refurbished iPad Air on Amazon for a steal!

Those are my fitness favorites!! Let me know if there is anything from my list that y’all plan to try, and I want to know what YOUR fitness favs are too!! Let me know in the comments! Xoxo, Olivia