Grey Likes Nesting

We’ve been basically jumping up and down for days with excitement over today’s post. This DIY was created just for Grey Likes readers by the super-duper-extra talented Ashley of Sugar and Cloth.  Be sure that you have lots of spare time when you visit her blog, because you will get sucked in. It’s gorgeous. Here’s what Ashley had to say:

I’m always swooning over trendy geometric table linens (West Elm, you have my heart). The only problem is that the inner DIY in me can’t justify buying them when they can be easily re-created to fit my space perfectly with a little paint and creativity. So, I set out to make my own, here’s how:

Materials:

• Martha Stewart all-surface craft paint
• Foam brush
• Painters tape
• Linens

How-to:

Giving plain linens new life with geometric shapes is literally as easy as taping off a few cool shapes, and painting a few thin coats of all purpose paint over them. I used the tape for horizontal lines and making triangles, then decided to free-hand the X’s but you could easily tape those also. By only painting the corners, you’re leaving guests plenty of space to dab a little icing from their cheek when the party gets started without any roughness.

Don’t you love them? Dont’ you love Ashley?! We knew you would.

Listen, if ANY of you knew about this blog before today and didn’t tell me, I am not speaking to you for the next week and a half. Sprinkle Bakes is seriously delicious. After spending an hour reading her past 100 or so posts, I decided I had to rush over and tell you. One of us had to be a good friend.

I’m a big sucker for butterscotch pudding. I’ll eat it out of the little plastic cups like a 3rd grader with no shame. So, imagine my delight when I saw this recipe for Kentucky Bourbon Puddings with Candied Pecans! It’s so much more sophisticated (and delicious) than the Jell-O cups. Oh lordy, we are all in trouble.

Images (and all other forms of drool-inducing material) are from Sprinkle Bakes.

So the other day my fiance decided to fill me in on the teeny tiny little detail that HE HATES MY HOME DECOR. Two words: Melt. Down. He is somewhere reading this yelling at his screen that he didn’t use the word “hate.” So what, I exaggerate. He actually just said he thinks its a bit girly for his tastes. You say girly, I say french country. Same diff.

The whole conversation led to me searching and searching for manly looks that I could also live with. Turns out, I kind of sort of love the man look. It’s sexy in a wearing-his-dress-shirt sort of way. Leather? Books? Clean lines? Grey walls? Vintage finds? Maps?

Best part? He’ll think you decorated like that for him. 

Images: West Elm | Keltainen Talo Rannalla | via Lost In America on Tumblr

Having overnight guests? Gather a few simple items to make them feel at home. For starters, a sweet handwritten welcome note on the bedstand. (How simple and adorable is this stationary from Etsy?!) Tell them where to find the dark chocolate and make note of your Wifi password. Top it off with fresh flowers, which we tend to consider a necessity more often than not. No need for a full bouquet – our local market sells single stems, we’re sure yours does, too.

Be sure to leave your nicest bath towels in plain sight. Pair it with a fresh bar of organic soap. Between the lavender and the linen, your guests are sure to overstay their welcome.

Images: Handmade soap from The Little Raggamuffin on Etsy | Linen Bath Sheet from NordicLinen on Etsy | Peony bud via Casa Sugar | Calligraphy stationary from Besotted Brand on Etsy

I recently stumbled upon this perfectly styled outdoor space and I couldn’t help but immediately need a tropical vacation. Since I can’t make that happen on a whim, I settled for dreaming up ways I could bring the vacay to myself. If you need justification for purchasing any of the necessary items to make your own little hideaway, I’m here to tell you that everyone as fabulous as you deserves their own private patio oasis. Don’t you agree?

Image HERE via Casa De Valentina

Get this look!

1. Recycled glass jug from West Elm. Surely you can find a tropical bloom to live inside.

2. We just love this modern take on the classic pouf. Square cube ottoman from All Modern.

3. Oh the relaxation! This perfect white sling chair from Pottery Barn is begging for me to nap in it.

4. Serving tray from Crate & Barrel. Best suited to hold frosty beverages — just trust us on this one.

5. Brighten things up with these fun yellow chevron throw pillow from Kohls (for a FAB price, too!).