Giveaway: Laurel Hill- CLOSED

Laurel Hill is a local Athens talent whose bohemian style jewelry is unique and versatile. She's offering one lucky reader their choice from the above pieces: relic rings (set of 5) OR plainview necklace and earrings OR crescent necklace and sunburst bracelet. Which one will you choose?

Entering is easy and open to everyone. Simply visit Laurel Hill's shop and tell me your favorite item. If you'd like an extra entry, Tweet, FB, or blog about this giveaway and let me know you did. And finally, if you're a subscribed reader to D&OC through one of the many ways you can read this blog, leave a separate comment saying, "I'm a subscribed reader." That's all folks. Easy peasy.

Winner will be picked and announced next Tuesday. xo

update-Winner is #46, Coley! 

By the river

B and I were able to take the afternoon on Saturday and relax at the local park. I appreciated this break more than most because it's been a rough few days for both of us. We lost a very dear friend to cancer this weekend and then this morning B's great uncle passed away. In the midst of grief and loss, we had this moment of quiet and it was wonderful. We're currently preparing for a week of services and traveling, family, friends and mourning. I've prepared some posts for the week including an update on this project but if I'm unresponsive to emails or comments, you'll know why. xo

images: D&OC w/the diana mini and lomography color negative 100 film

It's always ourselves we find in the sea

jacob ring

mariam sitchinava

valerie chiang

weepy hollow

celia gomez de villavedon

celia gomez de villavedon

bethan

I hope you have a very happy (long) weekend. Thank you to Melissa for having me share my wishes on her blog this week. I'll be back next Tuesday with a giveaway I think you're going to like. Have a good one friends. xo

Interiors: Open Kitchen Shelving

The kitchen is B's territory. He cooks so he gets the say in how the kitchen is organized and and I'm hoping one day he'll be able to design the kitchen of his dreams. Thankfully, we both agree that open shelving is a must! Why hide away all those pretty plates and cups and such? I say, if you got it, flaunt it.

pssst...if you like interiors, you'll love D&OC II, updated daily with lots of dreamy spaces.

images: 1) nest decorating 2)red online (via simply grove) 3) decor8 4) apartment therapy 5) sfgirlbybay 6) the brooklyn home company (via design attractor) 7) lanalou style 8) danske 9) made me do it 10) brian andriola 11) marie claire maison

Do More With Your Money: Rubina

Rubina Design provides a market for rural artisans in marginalized communities "to innovate and sell their own traditional crafts by incorporating what they are already doing into the Rubina supply chain." The goal is to help provide these talented women with a sustainable income, in turn allowing their families and communities to thrive. Read more about how this company is realizing their mission here. Aren't the cards fun? At $4.50 a piece, it might be wise to stock up!

(found via eat drink chic)

Down and Out Beauty: Concealer Trick

Mac 224 tapered blending brush $29; Sephora Collection rounded crease brush #13 $17; sonia kushuk pointed blending brush $3.99     

I want to share with you one of my favorite makeup tricks. I always apply concealer with a rounded tip eye crease brush. I know that it sounds really simple but it will save you so much time when applying your makeup. The rounded tip and fluffy bristles allow you to pick up just the right amount of product and then buff it into the skin with circular motions. Traditional concealer brushes hold so much product that it easily becomes cakey and very hard to blend. This technique allows for a seamless flow between concealer and foundation and you may already have one these brushes in your makeup bag. With under eye circles and blemishes covered in a flash, you can sleep for an extra ten minutes in the morning.

-Layne

Layne is a licensed esthetician and makeup artist working at Urban Sanctuary in Athens, GA. She writes the bi-weekly column, Down and Out Beauty.

Wishful Thinking

I'm pleased to say I think I've written my most honest post ever (honesty is great and all, but its a little scary, isn't it?). You can't find it here though. You'll have to visit Reverie Daydream to read about what it is I wish for most in life. I'm warning you now that its not light hearted stuff, but it is real. And did I mention honest?

image: marina kochetyga

Art: Lotta Nieminen

Illustrations by Finnish artist Lotta Nieminen.  

Tape Hooks

Shut the front door. How cool are these tape hooks!? I'd love to have a wall of these to hang my jewelry. The hooks are made from actual paper soaked in water and set in a fixed shape that's supposed to be strong enough to hold keys and other lightweight objects. I have no idea when they'll be available in the States but rest assured that as soon as I know, you'll know. xo

images: torafu architects (found via vivid)

g***

Photographs by g*** on flickr. 

Yo Vintage!

floral playsuit/romper $58 / 1960's knit print shirt dress $68

red and white striped shorts $38 / pastel summer shirt $28

floral print midi skirt $32 / bow print navy dress $52

Happy Monday! I hope you had a good weekend. I thought we'd start off the week taking a look at the large and eclectic selection of vintage items at Yo Vintage. Above are a few of my favorites with the floral romper finding a place on my wish list. See anything you like?

For B (my husband)

shanna murray

This is a special day. After much hard work, frustration, penny pinching (to the extreme), and long nights, B is officially finished with graduate school. If you've been following this blog for a while you might remember when I got into graduate school and then decided last minute not to go. I don't regret my decision for a minute but when B decided to go back to school I was not only wary of the student loans but of how life at home would change (let's just be honest here, B is the cook in our house and I was really concerned about what we'd eat). Despite my trepidation, I did not, however, let my fear stand in the way of what I knew was the absolute best move for B. Being in a marriage (or any partnership), for me, means looking at the other person and asking, "what do you want? What do you dream about doing? You want to be a teacher? Great! How can I help you get there?"

For B and I, accomplishing this milestone has meant being supported mainly by my salary (which some of you might balk at if you knew the numbers, but we won't go there, ok?) and its meant making some really tough decisions along the way. Aside from the financial strain, the emotional adjustments I've had to make by not having my husband as accessible to me as I would like has also been a challenge. Was it worth it? Absolutely! Was it hard? Hell yes.

B has worked his ass off student teaching, bartending, going to classes, studying, writing and has somehow managed to still be an amazing husband (and cook, thank goodness!). I am so incredibly proud of him and I know he's going to be the most amazing teacher. If you're reading this B, I want you to know that I would do it again, a thousand times because watching you accomplish a goal and be successful makes me happier than any amount of money or material item ever could.

Anyway friends, I just wanted to share this with you because it's a big deal for us. We have a lot of changes coming up (I can't share them now, but I will and soon) as we face the next steps in our journey together, but for now I bid you adieu until next week. Cheers!