Shannon Leigh: January 2012

January 30, 2012

In fashion and interior design that is. I have had a growing love for green these last weeks. I don't know if I am ready for spring time or just the fact that my husband said he liked the color on me. He-He. For whatever reason I am loving the color as a blazer, shoes, pants, wall color, and in any shade!

January 26, 2012

Del Monte House...

Before I go off to Dallas I wanted to share this house here in Houston that I love so much. It is know, to me, as the Del Monte house. Real Estate is one of my hobbies. I love to search the web for listed houses here in Houston and El Salvador, where my husbands from. I came across this house several weeks back and what intrigued me was the traditional front of the house. It has a classic look on the outside and there was a 50/50 chance that the inside would reflect gorgeous renovations or it had stayed in the era the house was built.

It was the style of renovations I was wrong about. Looking at the outside I was assuming that the inside would reflect a traditional french/country style. Well...I was wrong, oh so wrong, and I am glade I was. If I had the couple of million that they were asking for it I would move in tomorrow.

So beautiful and unexpected from the front of the house! Maybe it will be back on the market in the next few years...a girl can wish!

Travel Day!

Today I am off for a very quick trip to Dallas with my mom! We will meet up with my sister for a Starbucks break/visit, pack my niece in the car, and then make the four hour journey back home.

Besides the great talks my mom and I will have packing the essentials is a must! My phone, iPod, a change of clothes (always have to be prepared), a water, magazine, and my Starbucks cup. I am sure that the trip back home will feel longer with my niece sleeping most of the way. Can you blame her?! She is 18 months what else will she be doing. My magazine and iPod will definitely be needed.

Eight hours of driving are ahead of me today...it's going to be a long day!

January 25, 2012

Best of Both Worlds...

Having a dining room that over looks the kitchen, like this, is my dream. The kitchen opens up into the dining room but not too open. An open floor plan is something that I really love. Having too much of an open floor plan, where there are no walls to divide one room from another, isn't always good. Yes, It can make a 900 sq. ft. condo seem so much larger but it can also leave people, me, a little confused. I am the person who likes every room to flow but that each room has a different feeling from the next.

When I cam across this photo I loved everything about it. The fact that you could be cooking in the kitchen but still communicate with your guest sitting at the dining room table. The kitchen is opened by a gorgeous arch but not a huge opening where you can't feel some privacy.

The hubs and I watched It's Complicated this past weekend and besides from the movie being so good, we loved the house. This came as a surprise to me because the hubs has always been the one to say "I like modern things, we need to decorate with modern pieces". The movie house was completely opposite. It was Spanish look with a french country feel...if that's possible.Ha-Ha. The decor is fabulous in this room. The chandelier gives it a vintage look while keeping a traditional table, french country chairs, with fabulous modern pendants and some open shelves in the kitchen.

I would gladly move into this house!

January 24, 2012

Upcoming {Outfit} Events

After this coming weekend my 'weekend schedule' is all booked with showers and a wedding. I don't think I have been to this many parties in a row...well ever. I have my friends bridal shower, then my sister's family baby shower, than the following weekend I have her couples baby shower, a wedding, and then a launch party for Drake Men! About two weeks after the wedding is my sister's due date so it looks like for the next two months I will have no free Saturdays!

I am a procrastinator in many areas of my life but the one place that I am always on top of is picking out my outfits. Getting them all lined up helps me figure out any last minute items I may need to add. Each event will have different dress requirements which requires five completely different outfits...so much fun! Here is what I am thinking, as of right now...

Casual chic for my friends bridal shower

A little bit dressier for my sisters 1st baby shower

A more comfortable look for the couples baby shower

Elegant, classy for my friends wedding!

Pair a lace dress with some black tights to keep it classy

for the Drake Men Launch party!

I am so excited to be getting 'dressed up' for all of these special occasions this next month. Of course, the most exciting part will be the arrival of my third niece/nephew (it's being kept under wraps). That outfit will need no thought...sweats will do!

January 23, 2012

Open Kitchen Shelves

I have seen lately in magazines, blogs, and HGTV this big trend of having open cabinets in the kitchen. I love the idea, if you have nice stemware, plates, and if you can keep it some what neat. We live in a small condo so every space that we can we use for storage. Clearly, this isn't something that I am into at the moment. I wonder though if in our next home I would use this. I really do like the idea of it. Maybe not have every cabinet open, just a few to show case my nice pieces. What do you think? Would this be something that you would be open to doing in your kitchen?

January 20, 2012

Black, Caramel, and Cream

I found this outfit a while back and it has grown to be one of my favorite outfit photos. I usually here "Black and brown don't go well together". Well, this girl put the colors together so well that it makes me want to wear the exact same outfit!

Here is how you can get the same look! Every piece is under $50. Of course I had to throw in a cream scarf...one of my very own favorites that I wear practically every day.