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here are just a few things i’ve been eying lately that i wanted to share with you. i’ve been loving bold neutrals and as always, white accents to accompany them!

wrap up: {copper} {grey} {home decor} {light} {pendant} {white}

i first got inspired to order some miniature bottle brush trees after seeing this pretty project from jeni baker over at in color order. with full intentions of bleaching them, then dying them pink and green. however, i had to stop half way through the process!

you see, my theme for christmas this year is white, white, white. actually, it’s the theme for the whole house! i love how sweet, simple and clean it looks. after i finished bleaching these little trees white, i fell in love with them and the winter wonderland they created. just look:

i think they’re so pretty and just darling as a center piece. here’s how i did it:

first, you’ll have to get your hands on some mini bottle brush trees. your local craft store should carry them but if not, you can find them here or here.

second, all you have to do is let them soak in a bath of warm water and a little bleach (i used 3 capfulls in my sink). the color begins to fade almost instantly. i let mine soak for a few hours until they were completely white, then i simply rinsed them and set them upright on a paper towel to dry overnight.

if you’re only making white trees, then you’re done!

HOWEVER, if you’d like to dye your trees into a dreamy color combo like these beauties from jeni baker, then you’re half way there! my mom ended up making some pink ones of her own, and the process is really simple. all you need is some rit dye! here’s the how to:

to dye your bottle brush trees:

step one: bleach your trees, following the instructions above.

step two: combine your desired amount of rit dye and warm water in a glass bowl (follow package instructions), and let your tree soak. just keep an eye on the color and remove the tree when you’re happy with it. leaving it in longer will make the color darker or richer.

step three: remove the tree from the dye and rinse with cold water. set on a paper towel to dry.

step four: if you want to add a little bit of extra sparkle (like jeni did), add some glitter using a glitter pen, or glue and loose glitter.

have fun!

wrap up: {bleach} {bottle brush} {christmas} {diy} {dollhouse} {dye} {mini} {miniature} {rit} {trees} {white}

as i mentioned earlier, one of my favorite things to do each year is choose a gift wrapping theme. one year it was recycled newspaper, the next was huge glittered initials for each package. last year i used kraft paper and made pretty bows, and this year i’m making ‘chalkboard’ packages! with a little black kraft paper and a few white paint markers, i think they’ve turned out to be really cute. here’s how i did it:

the first thing you’ll need is some black craft paper. i got mine right here and though i’m super happy with it, you should be warned: it’s a HUGE roll! i was so surprised when it came in the mail, i guess i didn’t take care to check out the dimensions! so anyways, we might be doing this next year, too. ;)

next you’ll need a white paint marker that will show up well on black paper. after some trial and error and visiting my local scrapbooking store, this is what i came home with:

1. tim holtz distress marker in ‘picket fence’. this one looks very ‘chalky’. it goes on clear, but quickly dries in white.

2. sakura pen-touch white. this is the one i used for almost all of the packages. it’s easy to work with and still hasn’t run dry, so one is probably plenty!

3. crayola white colored pencil. not the greatest option, but it does show up if it’s all you have.

4. painters opaque paint marker. this is another good option. the point is a bit finer than what i wanted, but would work great for detail work!

the next thing you’ll need is some good ideas! i took some time to sit down and jot down a few ideas before i got started so that i would have something to reference. really anything goes! just in case you would like to use some of the same motifs, i’ve made this a download for you to reference. just click on the image above and print!

so there you have it. my ‘chalkboard’ packages that have been so fun to make! they are simple, affordable and really cute all bundled together.

what are your packaging plans this year?

wrap up: {chalkboard} {christmas} {holiday} {packages} {paint} {paper} {pen} {white} {wrapping}

the new general store is an online shop featuring home furnishings, pantry provisions and garden supplies galore! all boast a beautiful natural and ‘clean’ look that makes you feel fresh and summery. you’ll find white sponges, rosemary olive oils, teak serving boards, linen aprons, wooden garden tools, blackberry jam and mint tea. ahhh.

wrap up: {furnishings} {garden} {home} {natural} {pantry} {supplies} {the new general store} {white}

hap-happy monday, lovelies! great news… it’s time for a giveaway! and this one is pretty exciting if you ask me. :)

i’m so excited to be partnering with shabby apple to giveaway one of their pretty dresses. if you haven’t already fallen in love with this website trust me when i say that you will! there are so many beautiful womens dresses and skirts perfect for any occasion. they also have maternity dresses, pretty little girls dresses, and vintage swimwear that is to die for.

just in case you need another reason to adore shabby apple, they also donate 5% of their net sales to support women worldwide. every $100 donation from shabby apple provides at least 20 women with access to financial services – and the chance to live a life without poverty! now that’s noteworthy.

i think you’ll also find their fit to flatter guide super helpful. all you do is answer 3 questions and it picks the dresses that will be especially flattering on your you specific body type! (i’m a pear.)

moving on! one lucky (lucky) reader will win this adorable white vintage dress – trade winds, a perfect summer white cotton dips and ducks into the nipped waist of this hollywood starlet-inspired summer frock. the double layer dress sports an under bodice of white cotton voile with a sweet white bow belt. pleats at the collar and waist finish it with expertly tailored appeal. can i say swoon?

to enter, just visit shabby apple and leave a comment here saying you did so. want to enter twice? ‘like’ their facebook page and leave a seperate comment saying you did so. it’s easy as that!

the nitty gritty:

giveaway ends sunday, june 12th at midnight. one winner will be drawn by a random number generator. there will be no exchanges on the winning dress, and the winner must have a US shipping address.

ALSO: in addition to the giveaway shabby apple has generously given all ghtr readers a 10% off coupon good for 30 days! just use the code “goinghometoroost10off” at checkout.

wrap up: {cotton} {dresses} {giveaway} {sailor} {shabby apple} {summer} {white}

i miss the rain. colorado gets over 300 days of sunshine every year. my hometown in north carolina gets just under 100. though the sunshine is wonderful, i miss the pitter patter of rain drops on the roof, a day off from running outside, and a special time to curl up with a good book and gaze outside the window. i also miss what the rain brings. green luscious grass, gardens galore with plants of all kinds and flowing streams and rivers around every bend.

lucky for me, they make umbrellas for both rainy and sunny days alike. i’ll take any one of these fabulously feminine canopies.

clockwise: dianna wedding umbrella, white heidi, abigail lace parasol, giselle pagoda, camilla anglaise parasol, petite star dome

wrap up: {brollie} {bumbershoot} {lace} {parasol} {rainy} {sunshine} {umbrella} {wedding} {white}

hello friends! haphaphappy new year!  before we get to any resolutions, i must share with you our white christmas! it’s true, though we have had no snow yet in colorado, my hometown in north carolina got more than i’ve seen in years. it started snowing around 6 am christmas morning and didn’t stop for at least 48 hours. we got 16 inches! i couldn’t believe it, and though i wasn’t sure our christmas could get any better, the snow just made it magical.

we had so much fun with our families and feel so blessed to be so close with each of them. christmas morning started with a roaring fire and pumpkin waffles at david’s parent’s house and then ended up with homemade hot chocolate and yummy mac and cheese at my parent’s house- plus lots of gift giving at each. we return today feeling incredibly blessed and thankful.

how was your christmas? was it white?

wrap up: {christmas} {family} {snow} {white}

you might have seen anna inghardt’s photos over at decor8 or even great full day- but her photography is so stunning and so lovely- that i wanted to make sure that you had the chance to see them.  her white wonderland is so pretty- they make me feel as if someone tossed a blanket of peace and silence over me.  you can view all of her white photos at flickr and a few more over at her blog.  what do these make you feel like?

wrap up: {lights} {photography} {white} {wonderland}