House Beautiful

Tag Archive for 'visual comfort'

Sunday Morning Musing, Fall Edition

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What up Campers?!  Steph here, laptop tapping from the teensie western outpost of Crested Butte, CO.  Otherwise known as the coziest little Hallmark-Hall-of-Fame-esque mountain town you’ve ever seen.  I’m assuming my normal Sunday morning routine – (coffee in hand, Norah Jones & pals jamming on the playlist, OD-ing on Pinterest with Gus under foot)… except instead of saltwater, it smells like Fall & firewood & heaven here, and there’s chilly, clean mountain air wafting in through the open windows.

Crested Butte | Covet Living

Crested Butte | Covet Living

Anyhooski – here’s the latest & greatest reel of my favorite things:

File under: Future Home Pipe Dreams.  The blue door, the white brick, the lantern, the ivy… it’s perfection.  {via}

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These vintage Mercury Glass gems from 1st Dibs have been on my wishlist since the beginning of time.

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Ahhhooooooooooooh a monogram, in coral + chartreuse = air blowing up my southern sensibility shorts.

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Shower door porn. {via}

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Vintage ladder kilim – Dash & Albert used to make a good ladder rug that’s been disco’d, so I really only see these in vintage form these days, but I love them.  They have detail and warmth and pattern without being too busy, and they’re perfect for layering.

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This tuxedo ruffler from J.Crew (currently 30% off, BTW) reminds me of Jayne’s wardrobe ca. 1985… and also makes me wanna wear it to work with a pencil skirt, or with beat-up jeans and booties to Sunday brunch.

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Vintage suzani lumbars I bumped into at Hollywood at Home a few weeks ago.  Stunning in person – the photo doesn’t do them justice.  But what I love about these is that you *kinda* just need 1 on (an otherwise simple) bed, and you have a showstopper.  Or they mix & mingle perfectly with other patterns.
Vintage Suzani Pillows, Hollywood at Home | Covet Living

The best $38 you’ll ever spend = on these leggings from Vici.  They come in a whole ROYGBIV rainbow of colors, and they’re SO FREAKING COMFORTABLE.  We’re talking elastic waistband status, people.  I repeat: ELASTIC WAISTBAND.  They’re so comfortable and flattering it’s stupid.  Did I mention they’re $38?  K.  I have them in this army green, and also in the black – which is more charcoal/faded black.  Also craving them in midnight blue & wine, but I’m trying to exercise a little restraint.

Piper Leggings, Vici | Covet Living Piper Leggings, Vici | Covet Living

Since she tapered off of blogging over at Nest Egg, I follow Nashville Designer Rachel Halvorson’s insta to keep up with her glorious work.  But lately, I stalk her account for these videos of her ADORABLE CHUBBY TODDLER, where they try to subtitle his slobbery, adorable gibberish. “A goosey who pooped got sick” = I DIE.  And, “THE SCHEWAGE!” – BAAAHhfhfdhahahhaa.  Watch this one and this one.  You’re welcome.

Graham subtitles Rachel Halvorson | Covet Living

Addis in Midnight/Pasha (Peter Dunham’s latest & greatest) blows my shorts up like you wouldn’t believe.  It is perfect.  Also comes in a cream and chocolate color way that looks very understated cowboy chic.

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Using it in my #modernharmhouse project in Ohio… my client wanted to inject a smidge of lilac/purple for something unexpected (it’s an otherwise muted/neutral palette), which made me jump for joy.  Finding this gem checked that box and tied the whole dang thing together.

Fabric Story | Modern Farmhouse Project | Covet Living

Said pattern is also current swathing the walls at Hollywood at Home in LA, and you’ve never seen anything cozier in your life than an entire room enveloped in that stuff.

Addis in Midnight/Pasha at Hollywood at Home | Covet Living

I would love to use these new sconces from Arteriors, anywhere.  I love that there’s a mix of material & texture (wicker + brass). Flanking an upholstered bed, they’d be money – perfectly layered & understated without being boring.

Arteriors Padma Wall Sconce | Covet Living

I see and get to design some pretty fancy kitchens these days, with bells & whistles out the wazoo… but at my core, I’m still just a sucker for the warmth of a sweet, simple kitchen with some patina. {via}

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Samesies.

coziest kitchen ever | covet living

I’d like to whip up these Pumpkin Beer Pretzels with Chipotle Queso in that kitchen tonight, and house them over a Netflix marathon.  If that doesn’t sound like the best Sunday ever, I dunno what does.  Signed, praisesweetbabyjesus my new jeggings have an elastic waistband.

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Loving this piece by John Zurier.

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Love / need / am coveting this leather satchel.

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Pretty palette for Fall – spesh on the tabletop.  Just layers of blues and layers of antique metals.

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If you’re in the market for new underroos, I’d recommend this over the shoulder boulder holder:

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I #cantstopwontstop with the blue & white tile.  These are my new faves:

{via}

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{ via BDG in San Diego }

blue and white tile, BDG | covet living

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While we’re looking at things in pairs, I’d give my left nut to have my weave morph into something a little more mermaid-esque, comme ça…  WHO WAKES UP LIKE THAT?!

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Is that ever true.  I feel like that’s one of the most solid lessons I’ve learned in my 30’s.

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If EVER you find yourself with a cold this winter, do yourself a favor and grab about 5 of these.  One of them does more for me than the entire contents of my medicine cabinet.

best cold cure - pressed juice | covet living

I’ve been sweating Kiini brand suits for awhile, and I’m thinking about scooping the pink version up for a January trip to Mexico.

kiini | covet living

This is a custom fireplace via a fellow San Diego-based Designer.  Super into it… there are a few things going on: the tile on the hearth and surround, the floating (looks like a reclaimed) mantle, the curvy shape etc… but it still feels nice and simple to me.

custom fireplace, design squared | covet living

Just another all-time fave I was scouting a few weeks back at BDG tile – Tabarka’s Izmir – for one of the bathroom floors at #projectsantabarbarainvegas.

tabarka | covet living

Loving the mountains, but dag… do I love the saltwatery air and technicolor universe that is San Diego.

san diego | covet living

Love the kitchens with islands-as-big-as-my-house & all, but I love this homemade beaut just as well.  So easy to do with some reclaimed lumber, or an antique piece of furniture – just have a remnant of natural stone cut for the top and you’re golden.

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ASOS = my favorite place to shop for lingerie.  Love this set.

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Bastideaux textiles (through Nicky Rising) are my new favorites – especially for dude pads.  This one is Napili… aka happy baby pineapples.

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Using their Bogo in Midnight (pictured behind the wool stripe pillow – via DRC San Diego) for a downtown bachelor pad in San Diego.  MONEY. #clientbadassbachelor

Bastideaux Fabric, Covet Living Interiors | Covet Living

This gorgeous antique headboard appeals to my southern-rooted, Stevie B sensibilities.

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Fall fashion goals. {via}

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GOOD GOD IF YOU KNOW WHAT’S GOOD FOR YOU, MAKE GRILLED CHEESE + TOMATO SOUP FOR SUPPER TONIGHT.  Gobs of Grilled Cheese recipes here… my go to, howevuh, is Pacific Natural Foods’ Organic Creamy Tomato soup, + grilled cheese on fresh sourdough, with some RUHL good extra sharp cheddar, dipped in Bonne Maman’s strawberry jam.

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These dog bowls are about a jillion dollars at some highfalutin pet boutique in La Jolla, but I’d like someone to make them for me… *COUGH* Chris.

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I may or may not have just bought this for the future President of the United States… Gus.  Are you following him on Insta yet?  Cuz you should be. doggie-chambray-bowtie-covet-living

We just put these in my #modernfarmhouse project’s kitchen in Ohio, and they’re stunners.  One of my favorite lanterns ever…  look at the oxidized copper patina.  This pic I snapped from the Visual Comfort Vegas showroom a few weeks back.

Brantley Lantern, Visual Comfort | Covet Living

Snap from the Pom Pom Home booth at To Dine For in La Jolla a few weeks back.  All I ever needed was 2 of these at the foot of my bed, or on either side of my dining table.

wicker chair, pom pom home | covet living

I just wanna move in.  I want everything in here.

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Dying to use this gorgeous tile somewhere… via a trip to Country Floors in LA this past Spring.

tile, country floors | covet living

Lorna Luxe’s Instagram is on point for perfectly layered neutrals.  Also, I stalked the bra in this first shot, and thru some quick stalking I hath discovered a stellar new source for underthings.

via lorna lux insta | covet living

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Log this under one-of-my-favorite-patterns-ever: Peter Fasano’s Hillevi in Buff.

peter fasano hillevi in buff | covet living

This shade of blue.  On everything – cabinetry, millwork, furniture – anything.

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Loving the artwork of Ines Longevial – discovered via Krista from Cloth & Kind’s Pinterest.  They have superb taste.

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Susan Connor = another new textile muse I can’t get enough of.

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New and delightfully whimsical Keaton lamp, from Visual Comfort.  I have an antique lamp almost just like this, packed away somewhere in a basement in North Carolina. Sniff.

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I need a new business card holder-thingy *COUGH* please Santa.
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How precious would Coeur in Olive from Les Indiennes be in a little girl’s room?

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I may’ve posted this pendant (or one like it) 99x, but here’s to #100.  LOVE.

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I love a mosaic tile backsplash that looks like artwork just about as much as I love a classic subway tile backsplash, but you know what’s really growing on me?  Running your countertop up the backsplash as well.  These campers took it a step further and integrated the sink as well.  But it’s such a clean, simple, gorgeous look – and probably uber easy to clean.  My home skillet Betsy of Bixby & Ball did it in her kitchen, and it’s stunning.  PS: love the open shelf they popped in here, too.

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Get in my office.  Kthanksbye. {via} lucite-and-brass-bar-cart-covet-living

Obsessed with this oh-so-simple but chic entry.  Those tall baskets could hide a multitude of evils (toys for all my friends who are parental units) and the curved glass or lucite console hasn’t gotten old for me yet.

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Behold.  The most perfectly indiscernible blue-grey paint color, ever… with the faintest hint of lavender.  My last 2 bedrooms have been this color. wisp-of-smoke

Last but not least, you just can’t beat pretty hardware.  These hex pulls are from Rejuvenation and they’re $11 each… done.

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I lied.  This needs to go last.  Maybe a good thing to do before the week starts over tomorrow?

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Have a great Sunday!!!!

xoxo,

Steph's Scanned Signature

Saturday Morning Musings, June Edition

Perfect Dining Room | Covet Living

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Goooooooood MMMORNING!!!!!  Ahhh Happy Summer!  Hope your weekend’s off to a great start.  I’m currently doing what I do best on a Saturday morning, which is drinking my 10th cup of coffee to the sound of Gus destroying a bone at my feet, whilst I scroll back through my last few months’ worth of pins and marinate in the glory of all the inspo on my phone I’ve been stockpiling.  I just noticed everything I’m obsessing over right now is in washed-out shades of blues and whites… guess it’s à cause de summa.  Anyway – wanna play??

This Ann Sacks tile knocks my socks off.  It’s got such a calming, iridescent, under-the-sea, understated thing going on.  Also reminds me of the tile from that Steven Gambrel kitchen that served as inspo for my Bright Copper Kettles project.

Ann Sacks Medina Tile | Covet Living

I cannot even handle this baby fluff ball.  I mean, I *KINDA* wanna get married and have kids someday when I grow up, but I also KIIINDA wanna buy a farm and raise golden retrievers.  JUST KIDDING JAYNE JUST KIDDING.

Baby Golden | Covet Living

Saw this number on a friend of mine in a pic on Facebook and immediately demanded to know where it came from.  Perfect dress for summertime wedding-guesting, date night-ing, picnic-ing, etc.

Bella Maxi Dress | Covet Living

This Bevolo Lantern makes me weak at the knees.

Bevolo Governor Lantern | Covet Living

And so do these Billy Haines vintage chairs that I’d give my left nut to get my hands on…

Billy Haines Vintage Chairs, Chairish | Covet Living …and recover Walter G’s Kanoko Pacific Blue Linen (via Nicky Rising), which is about the most perfect fabric I’ve ever seen.

Kanoko Pacific Blue Linen, Walter G | Covet Living

Hows about making this for suppa tonight?  Caramelized Goat Cheese, Kale & Fig pizza.  Operation 6-pack can start tomorrow.

Carmelized Onion Goat Cheese Pizza | Covet Living

Dew drop glass hex tiles… I would do up an entire shower wall in these.  Can you imagine???

Dew Drop Hex Tile | Covet Living

Look past the light fixture/table to the cabinetry on the end of that dining room… Perfection.  I’ve had to design a lot of built-ins lately – especially for dining rooms – and it’s always a balance trying to get ample storage without looking like you just slapped a 12 ft wall with as much cabinetry as you could… that gets to feelin’ REAL HEAVY REAL FAST.  What I love that they did here was: a) left breathing room in the middle.  There’s obviously a window here, but even if there wasn’t, they added shiplap, which adds some visual interest and keeps the center portion from looking all cheese-stands-alone.  b) They did mirrored glass inserts with a wire mesh detail in the upper doors, which keeps it feeling open – like an extension of the window in the center.

Dining Cabinetry | Covet Living

This dress may look like Lilith Fair 2016 and you may hear Sarah Mac jamming when you look at it, but I’m telling you, it’s stunning on, and what’s more – it’s PJ status comfy.

Free People Other Days Maxi | Covet Living

Sigh… reminds me of how the light looks when the sun starts to go down on warm summer nights.  Heaven.

Fresh Farmhouse Shadow | Covet Living

I’m dying for one of these giant clam shells to corral – wuhhhl – I’ll let you know when I figure it out.  But I totally need it.

Giant Clam Bowl | Covet Living Please God can my hair dry like this?  Not that I don’t love having the albino version of Buckwheat’s hair / human pipe cleaners attached to my head when I get outta the ocean.

Hair Envy 2 | Covet Living

One of the most perfect blue-greens I’ve ever seen.

Hazel, Sherwin Williams | Covet Living

This chandelier in a room painted in that color above?  Yes please.

Vintage Gilt Chandy, Etsy | Covet Living

Saw these at Anthro the other day.  Great for summer entertaining al fresco.

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A to the Men, one thousand times over.  I cannot, cannot, CANNOT wrap my head around how quickly time passes.  I legit think the 90’s were like 10 minutes ago, and then I realize I was in high school 17 years ago.  It’s going too fast, and there’s just no time to not say what you feel and to not do all the things you’ve wanted to do. The nicest thing one of my friends ever said to me was that I was her only friend who she knew who would never have to live with any regrets… (which basically means I’m nuts enough to take any and every leap of faith).  I miss a lot for sure and it doesn’t always work out, but I do try my best to live by that mantra.  Also just means you never have to wonder.  So how bout them apples.

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Tabarka’s new collection is so unreal.  This might be my favorite yet.

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I really, REALLY want to use this for drapery panels in Karrie’s entry.  It’s understated without being boring and so, so soothing.  Pretty sure if Meryl could’ve made an extra pair of luscious draperies for the set of It’s Complicated, she would’ve used this.

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Behold: the perfect little summer dress.  Courtesy of Free People.  I’m not small (5’9″ / not a stick) but that’s a size small, so it runs large.

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Bless you, nice lady who posted this Limoncello cocktail recipe that I’ll be making later today.

Limonchella Cocktail | Covet Living

LINDSAY COWLES could knock me down with a feather with the 4116 Caribbean bad boy on grasscloth that just hit the streets.  Also, girlfriend just had a babe – congrats, mama!!!!!

Lindsay Cowles, Grasscloth | Covet Living

These heels.  I cannot.

Heels | Covet Living

I accidentally tried this “Queen of the Sun” maxi on at Free People (do I live there?) the other day, then accidentally laid it on the counter and accidentally let them swipe my credit card.  It may not translate but this is one of those stunning dresses in person that you see like, once every 5 years and then still kick yourself 10 years later if you didn’t buy it. It’s ethereal and flowy and I’m totally wearing it to a wedding next weekend… right after I have a tailor tweak the boob situation.  PS, I’m usually a 6, and this sucker is a 2, so it runs large as well.

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Attention peeps on a budget with kiddos: Joanna Gaines’ new rug collection for Loloi does NOT disappoint, and this is my favorite one.  Bonus: it’s made of polypropylene which means your nuggets will have a tougher time screwing it up.

Joanna Gaines for Loloi EJ-05 Dark Blue | Covet Living

The old (fashioned) person – and the semi-southerner – in me wants a set of monogrammed linen cocktail napkins REAL bad.

Linen Cocktail Napkins | Covet Living

Please, please please can I put this in some friend of mine’s nursery????  Might be the sweetest thing I’ve ever seen.

Pato Otomi Pendant | Covet Living

From Maven collection, and coming soon to an inspo board for my room at Casa Covet Living.

PInk Vintage Rug, Maven | Covet Living

I’m not a red person, and Lord knows whether or not I’ll ever see the aisle (cuz I’ll be REAL busy with my farm of baby Gusses), but I do NOT hate this bouquet.  Not even a little.

Red Bouquet | Covet Living

Please, sweet Safavieh chair, get in my beach house.

Safevieh Chair | Covet Living

I found this ditty from Lee Industries on Craigslist yesterday when I was trolling for cheap settees to recover for my dining room.  It’s not cheap ($800), but considering it retails for close to $3k and is almost brand new, that’s not unreasonable.  The lines of it are stunning – and unlike a lot of upholstered benches for a dining area, the back isn’t too reclined and it’ll keep you sittin’ up nice & straight so you don’t spill your Wheaties in your lap.

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I’d like to blow this Slim up super big time and also pop in said dining room.

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Hot hot hot.

Steve Madden Sassey | Covet Living

Perfect off-the-shoulder and perfect sunnies.

Summer off the Should | Covet Living

These wall sconces would be SO COZY flanking a big upholstered bed.

Sunset Plaza Sconce, VC | Covet Living

I may wear these on my next trip to CB.  Rawr.

Tassel Shorts | Covet Living

Thonet + Cane + Bleached Wood = heaven.

Thonet Chairs, Fresh Farmhouse | Covet Living

I’ll take my piña colada at the swing-up bar, svp.

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Those side chairs are to die.

Wicker Chairs | Covet Living

What I wanna live in all summer long.

Summer Whites | Covet Living

Come to my farm little muffin!

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Mama needs that hat.  (I am mama).

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Tabarka.  Seriously slaying me one tile at a time.

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Wishlist to the max.  I love the beige tortoise action.

 

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I insta’d this the other day when I looked up and realized my room looks a lot like what my life feels like.

Stephanie Ballard | Covet Living Interiors

Not to get all weird, but when I sat back and thought about it for a stitch, I also realized I wasn’t sure how/when my life became one where started my own business and make my own schedule and pick out beautiful things for people (and then they pay me – OMG), and also separately work for the nicest/best boss ever and get to design kitchens and bathrooms and learn everything you ever wanted to know about cabinets… or that I live this washed-out technicolor existence where I ride around this little beach town on my little mint green beach cruiser, run with Gus on the beach in the morning and inhale saltwater / feel sunshine on my shoulders all day, scoot to yoga in the mornings, scoot off to remote mountain wonderlands some weekends and fly fish with someone who will remain nameless for now but is a damn gem, slam fish tacos for about 2 meals a day, spend weekends in Malibu and at Casa Covet Living, live in the most beautiful place ever and have the best friends and family, ever.  Etc.  Two and a half years ago I remember a time when I COULD not see the light at the end of the tunnel and could not fathom that I wasn’t going to drown in that sadness.  Even a year ago, the residue of (that) was still pretty constant, and I was also in another pretty unsavory situation with someone who seemed to delight in telling me all the things I wasn’t capable of doing / couldn’t possibly handle.  Life’s too short and ain’t nobody got time for that, so if anyone’s doing that to you right now, dontchoodare listen to um… and know that that’s about them, not you. Anyhow.  Just shows to go ya how much can change for the better if you let go of all the things you know aren’t good for you, kindly say goodbye to the people who neither respect nor appreciate you, focus only on what you can control, put yourself and what you do best out into the universe and glean as MUCH positivity from every single situation that you possibly can.  And that you can ALWAYS start over.  So. That’s it for my monthly preach… ‘cept I’ll leave you with this:

Go For It | Covet Living

BOOM!  (( that was the sound of me dropping the mic )) Happy Weekend!

Steph's Scanned Signature