Karli's Style Resolutions for 2013

I can kill hours looking at magazines and Pinterest. I love daydreaming about future projects and getting new ideas for my current plans. In honor of New Year's Resolutions, I've made a list of things I'd like to accomplish style-wise.

1. Create a comfortable and organized home office

We've already started this project (you can see a before picture here) with newly laid laminate floors. We need to finish the baseboards and then the furniture can be moved back in. Here are a couple of my inspirations for this space.




Image found on BreakfastAtToast.com

2. Makeover the exterior of our house

The exterior paint, windows and landscaping have been on our list since the day we saw the house. In a few short weeks our new windows are being installed (YIPPEE) and this spring we'll paint and probably get rid of some overgrown landscaping. Overall, a goal for 2013 is making our house as inviting on the outside as we've made it on the inside. I love brightly colored doors as you might remember from my old house so that will definetely make the cut.

 
3. Continue to define my personal style

I chopped off all my hair in late 2012 and I've never felt more "myself." Why did I wait so long? Its funny how a simple hair cut can give you a totally new perspective about your personal style. After reading a friend's copy of What You Wear Can Change Your Life, I want to focus on clothing and accessories that really make the most of my body type, complexion and lifestyle.

I think I look best in jewel tones. I completely enjoy wearing dresses and statement necklaces or earrings. This image captures my idea of a nearly perfect outfit with style. 

Have you made home improvement, design or style related goals for 2013?

~Karli

DIY Bridal Hair Flower with a Special Family Heirloom

"If you're going to San Francisco, be sure to wear some flowers in your hair." ~The Mamas and the Papas, 1967

When I got engaged, I knew I wanted to incorporate many of the family heirlooms I'm blessed to now possess. One of the pieces was this beautiful brooch I inherited from my great grandmother Pearl. I'd worn it as a brooch several times, but it felt so special and perfect for a wedding!

As I browsed wedding magazines and sites like TheKnot.com and MarthaStewart.com I was drawn to large, delicate flowers placed in hair. Brent has always told me I'm a little bit of a hippie, so this comes as no surprise. The clincher was when I tried on wedding dresses and this beauty was put in my hair just for fun.

I fell in love with it, but didn't want to pay $190 for something I felt like I could make.

So I put the two items together...the brooch and the idea for a DIY hair flower. The template I used is no longer posted on Martha's website, but you can simply create a template of a large flower.

 

Buy fabric that coordinates with your dress and start cutting! I mixed mine up with some very fine organza and some silk shantung because I wanted a variety of textures. I probably cut out about 20 of the flowers and then stitched them together. I then sewed three small hair clips on to the back.

My great grandmother's brooch was the crowning jewel in the center.

Here's the finished product in my hair on my wedding day.

My wedding photos were taken by A and A Photography. Visit their site and blog!

~Karli