Thinking like a DIY Superhero

I bought a book this weekend! And for those of you who know me, you did read that first sentence correctly.

The book is Young House Love by Sherry and John Petersik. I’m excited for this book because after following their blog (Young House Love), I’m starting to think like a DIY Superhero. If the blog has me thinking like a DIY Superhero, the book will only help me gain strength, right? …. If they can do it, we can do it too! 

In fall of 2009, we purchased our home with some ideas for future and I’m getting *ANTSY for the future to get here. In 2011 we gave our home a curb appeal facelift with paint, shutters, gutters and landscaping (old post here) but I've got interior changes on the brain for 2013.

This is where inspiration from Young House Love comes in.... what if we can tackle some of those scary interior projects ourselves (DIY Superhero talking)?

*ANTSY - I’m really getting antsy because I finally can vision a style that compliments both B and I’s design preferences. He likes dark, rustic and manly and I like light, colorful and all sorts of eclectic. 

Love Lamp

We have a new lamp in the McDaniel household! I may have been down and out all weekend with the flu, but my Mother-in-Law stumbled upon this treasure on her Saturday outing. A few texts and brief measurement phone call later, she sealed the deal on the lamp for us. $34.95. Can't beat it.

Our new beauty is from The Basement. A spot I can't wait to frequent, located at 10th & Western here in OKC. My Mother-in-law read about it in the January 2013 issue of Southern Living Magazine (page 106)!

See you there this weekend?

Pity Party of 1

10 days in to 2013, I'm sick. Great. Sinus infections The flu sure did have a way of ninja-chopping me. Yesterday morning I was fine and by 10pm, I was in a ball aching and switching from freezing to burning up.

To use up PTO days at work before I lose it, I was already planning to be off Friday - Monday and was going to be SO productive. Funny how things change.

Instead of working today, bragging to co-workers that today was my "Friday" and obnoxiously wishing LOakes a Happy Birthday, I spent the day as a party pooper. The Morning was filled with fun times at the doc-in-the-box and waiting for prescriptions. This afternoon I stayed busy holding down the couch, napping occasionally, Pinterest-ing and planning a productive rest of the weekend (painting a room?), while frequently being checked on by my white, furry nurse.

New Year Inspiration

We're not even a full week into 2013 and I'm already feeling inspired with new fashion and decor ideas for 2013. My favorite haunts have been bombarding my e-mail accounts and sending out new catalogs... here are some of my favorites so far.

I'm not sure a girl could ever go wrong when they have some J.Crew inspiration.

 

Here’s to the 2013 color of the year, Emerald! And thanks, Piperlime for tempting me.

World Market sure does know the way to my heart.

Inspiration from Neiman Marcus to get more familiar with print mixing!

What’s not to love in the most recent Ballard Designs catalog? It’s clean, a tad rustic and colorful all at the same time.

Loft with their pastels, floral prints, pops of bright colors and sparkles… Oh My!

Setting Sail with The Texas Okie

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

I'm setting sail with a new blog today. Seems fitting for New Year's Day, right? So today starts a New Year, New Me, New Goals and New Blog.

First thing's first, let me introduce (or re-introduce) myself: Ashley Nicole (Swann) McDaniel

I’m Ashley,  a born & raised Texas girl who had no idea deciding to attend Oklahoma State University would lead me in a path to being an Okie.   I married my college sweetheart in 2010 and we own a cute little house in Edmond, Oklahoma (about 250 miles from my hometown of Plano, TX) and have a Maltese fur-child named Dixie Belle! Since graduating college, I've been working on the recruiting team for an OKC based oil & gas company while still making time to tap into my "creative juices."

Things that I <3: being busy, fashion, interior decorating, crafts projects of all types, accessories (home & fashion), art, fabric swatches, color, pictures, chips & dip and a good bargain!

TV Shows: Big Bang Theory, Revenge, Person of Interest and Duck Dynasty

Biggest Addictions: TJ Maxx, Instagram, Pinterest & GroopDealz

@’s: Twitter (McSwanny) Instagram (McSwann) Pinterest (McSwann)

Favorite Artsy Medium: Painting (acrylic). I’m an honors art class drop out – thanks to a jerk of a teacher who busted my bubble when he told me I had no talent (I also realize I’m no Picasso).

In 2013 I hope to: Begin and keep a Creative Journal, keep up with this blog, be more confident in myself, paint more things, have some fun and be as happy as a clam!