PINEAPPLES AND SWEET TEA

A Little Update

October 5, 2020 No Comments

Life has definitely been a little crazy these last few weeks. Time slipped by and I didn’t get a blog written. Can you believe how fast this year is going and the holidays will soon be upon us? I am planning on doing my Halloween decorating this weekend. It feels like fall in the Midwest now.

Ruby is settling in wonderfully to her new home and we couldn’t love her more. Finn is enjoying having a friend to play with and is not jealous at all. Thank goodness, I was concerned about that. I have found them cuddled up sleeping together and it is the cutest thing. Our vet gave her a wonderful report and she is in great health and was well taken care of in her previous home. Two dogs are certainly a lot more work though. Takes twice as long to do anything but we wouldn’t have it any other way. As a gift to the shelter, I put together ten tote bags from Initial Outfitters and filled them with a blanket, treats, and a toy for them to pass out to new dog owners. My donation was made possible through friends and business sponsorships and we are so grateful for the support.

Best Friends

Cute Tote Bags

I spent a few days in Orlando with a couple of my girlfriends. Sometimes you just need to get away and enjoy time with the girls. We had a great time. We stayed at the new JW Marriott Bonnet Creek Resort, and I highly recommend it. It is on Disney property but back out of the way. Quiet and peaceful. We didn’t go to any of the parks this time. Our favorite thing to do is champagne at The Enchanted Rose at The Grand Floridian followed by dinner at The Contemporary. The Contemporary has an amazing view of the castle and at night it is beautiful. Of course, we did a little shopping and spent a day at Disney Springs. It was a perfect trip. We’re ready to plan our next adventure.

I’ll share some fun Halloween decorating ideas on the next blog. Have a great week.

Carrie Kelly is an Interior Redesigner Industry Specialist and Lead Designer at Carrie Kelly Designs specializing in interior redesign, seasonal, and home decor helping clients create beautiful spaces in their homes without the time and expense of a full remodel. She is also an Independent Consultant with Initial Outfitters, a boutique featuring all things monogrammed and personalized for your unique style. Carrie is also the author of Pineapples and Sweet Tea, a Lifestyle blog.

Find her at: https://carriekellydesigns.com

All About Home, Decor, Holidays

Five Minute Fall Decor

September 14, 2020 No Comments

Fall is finally here and it’s time to bring in the warm colors of fall into our home decor. Does the thought of changing out your decor stress you out especially with the holiday season right around the corner? Do you skip decorating for fall altogether? What if I could help you decorate a room in five minutes with five accessories? Sounds easy, right? It really is with a few perfect pieces.

Let me show you my kitchen refresh for fall. Clearing out the summer decor and pineapple placemats and accessories were the first steps. It’s nice to start with a clear space to really see all of the possibilities. I love bringing in some warm-colored pieces and buffalo plaid prints are some of my favorites. I switched out my pineapple placemats for a gray buffalo plaid with a pumpkin personalized with our name for our counter eating area. Personalized pieces are a quick and easy way to achieve a high-end designer look. These are pieces you won’t see in everyone’s kitchen and on every store shelf. Mixing patterns is always a great idea, pieces don’t always need to match, they just need to go together.

With that thought, I used personalized black placemats on the kitchen table to coordinate with my napkins and napkin rings. It all pairs nicely. A pumpkin soup tureen from Pier 1 became a pretty centerpiece. My napkin holder is a Nora Fleming piece. I love her pieces because you only need to switch the minis to create a new look. Their collection contains minis for every holiday, season, and occasion. I highly recommend them. A fall candle and fresh flowers complete the table. Fresh flowers are always a must in my house.

Kitchen Table Refresh

The last few changes were simple. I always have a personalized cutting board on my counter and I just switched it out for the same pumpkin style as my kitchen counter placemats. A Mackenzie-Childs pumpkin and fall candle add to the display. Switching my summer kitchen towels for pretty fall ones was the last step in the kitchen refresh. Towels are such an easy way to achieve a quick change. Normally I add garland to the windows but decided to leave them out this year. I wanted a clean, uncluttered look.

What do you think? I really did just do this refresh in just five minutes with five accessories. Room designs don’t have to be complicated, sometimes less is more. I really enjoy the simple uncluttered look before the holiday decorating begins. Enjoy the crisp fall weather and changing colors.

Carrie Kelly is an Interior Redesigner Industry Specialist and Lead Designer at Carrie Kelly Designs specializing in interior redesign, seasonal, and home decor helping clients create beautiful spaces in their homes without the time and expense of a full remodel. She is also an Independent Consultant with Initial Outfitters, a boutique featuring all things monogrammed and personalized for your unique style. Carrie is also the author of Pineapples and Sweet Tea, a Lifestyle blog.

Find her at: https://carriekellydesigns.com

Welcome Ruby

September 7, 2020 No Comments

Have you ever had something happen that just completely takes you by surprise and changes everything? I think most of us have. This is exactly what happened to our family last week. And it all started with a text message.

I received a text message with the picture of a dog at the shelter that could be our Finn’s mom or sibling. The message was half serious, half joking because we already have Finn and not sure he would like to share his home with another dog. But she was absolutely adorable and looked like she had such a personality. I looked at the shelter’s website and Facebook and couldn’t find out too much about her except her name was Ruby and she was 9 years old. I had a vendor event that weekend and kept thinking about her and how much she looked like part of Finn’s family. I could not get her out of my head. I wanted to know more about her story and what brought her to the shelter. From the pictures of her, she looked like such a sweet, happy girl.

Monday morning I called the shelter to find out more about her. She had already been put on hold so I was happy that she would possibly be going to a good home. Seniors often are overlooked at the shelters. They told me to fill out an application in case this adoption fell through. I learned a little more about her story and it broke my heart. Ruby and her sister were surrendered because their owner fell ill. Her sister was sick and had to be put down while at the shelter. That left poor Ruby all alone. Oh, she is also 11 years old. Immediately, my application went in and was approved. The other family had until Wednesday to make a decision. Is it bad I hoped they wouldn’t take her? There was just something about her and I knew she was meant to be part of our family.

I thought and thought about her until I called Wednesday. The family still hadn’t decided and I had to wait until the afternoon. It was a long afternoon. Finally, I was told that the other adoption fell through and we could come to meet her. The big condition was Finn getting along with her. I really hoped he would. We headed to the shelter and Bob was meeting us there. When I saw Ruby I knew she needed to come home with us. She was so sweet and you could tell she just had been through so much and wanted a place to call home. Finn got along great with her, dogs have that sense and maybe he knew she needed us. Maybe because they are both Yorkies, I’m not sure. We brought our new girl home that night. I wasn’t leaving without her. My heart would break thinking of her living out the rest of her life in shelters and scared.

Ruby is settling in with the family just fine. It’s obvious that her previous owner loved and took such good care of her and I hope they know we will give her the best life with us. Finn is doing great with her as well and I know they will be lifelong pals. Of course, we are giving her space to adjust to us but I think she is enjoying the quiet and peaceful home. She loves to be outside and sleeps with us and Finn. She is definitely a people girl, and I find her following me around. She needs a good grooming and a little fattening up but she is healthy. I know she will not be with us as long as our other dogs we have adopted as puppies but the rest of her life will be full of love and happiness. I feel like it was meant to be. Welcome to your furever home Ruby. We love you.

Finn meeting Ruby

I love my new home

Settling in

Two tired kids after a day outside

Carrie Kelly is an Interior Redesigner Industry Specialist and Lead Designer at Carrie Kelly Designs specializing in interior redesign, seasonal, and home decor helping clients create beautiful spaces in their homes without the time and expense of a full remodel. She is also an Independent Consultant with Initial Outfitters, a boutique featuring all things monogrammed and personalized for your unique style. Carrie is also the author of Pineapples and Sweet Tea, a Lifestyle blog.

Find her at: https://carriekellydesigns.com

All About Home, Decor

DIY Fall Wreaths

August 31, 2020 No Comments

It certainly doesn’t feel like it but fall will be here soon. I’m looking forward to cozy sweaters, bonfires, and warm apple cider. I am also going to try some new fall recipes in my Instapot and some new soups. I could eat soup every day. If you are like me it is time to change my decor from the bright, fun, and whimsical summer theme to a more earthy, warmer toned fall theme. I enjoy changing my decor for each season and it keeps things from feeling too stale in the house.

I ordered a couple of new wooden cutouts from Initial Outfitters and wanted to create a couple of new pieces. The acorn was something different and it really caught my eye. Painting it turquoise gives it a pop of color but still fits in with my fall theme. The white frame with chicken wire I have had and used for different things. It’s great if you can repurpose something and think outside of the box. I thought it would be nice to combine these two pieces instead of doing a traditional wreath. Ribbon and floral picks were leftover from a previous project and I added these in. I really like how this turned out and the frame is going to be a great piece to repurpose each season. Change the cutout, bow, and flowers and you have a whole new look.

The happy fall cutout is a new one, and when I saw that I knew it was just what I wanted for the front door. I like a piece I can use all season and maybe add a few extra accessories for a holiday or special occasion. Warm, metallic looks are so on-trend and this was the look I wanted for this piece. I painted the happy fall part in a metallic copper paint but decided to leave our name natural for contrast. Since this piece will be on the door a clear coat is a must to protect it from the elements. Again, I repurposed a wreath I had, the grapevine is a perfect natural element for fall. Adding a strand of cream pumpkin garland and a burlap bow finished the look. I like the cream colors against the copper and darker grapevine. For Halloween, I can add some witches and bats without having to create a whole new piece.

DIY doesn’t have to be complicated and by taking what you already have and adding to it a new look is easily created. I am planning on starting my fall decorating this week and I hope you will follow along for inspiration. Show me your decor too, I am always looking for new ideas. Follow along at Carrie Kelly Designs for videos on these two projects. Enjoy the cooler weather and change of seasons.

Carrie Kelly is an Interior Redesigner Industry Specialist and Lead Designer at Carrie Kelly Designs specializing in interior redesign, seasonal, and home decor helping clients create beautiful spaces in their homes without the time and expense of a full remodel. She is also an Independent Consultant with Initial Outfitters, a boutique featuring all things monogrammed and personalized for your unique style. Carrie is also the author of Pineapples and Sweet Tea, a Lifestyle blog.

Find her at: https://carriekellydesigns.com

New Adventure

August 24, 2020 No Comments

Have you ever thought about doing something you have always wanted to do but unsure of yourself? All of this craziness of COVID made me stop and think about this. I love what I do with Initial Outfitters but wanted to do more. Ever since I was young I have always redecorated and designed for fun. I love to create new spaces and find new ways to repurpose what I have. This got me thinking, what could I do?

Design and decorate, it’s always been my passion. I decided to go back to school and take classes in Interior Redesign. I knew this was more for me, as I didn’t want to get into the architecture and reconstruction of spaces. After doing some research I decided to go through the online program through International Association of Professional Career College and complete the Interior Redesign program. I really worked and studied and completed the course with High Honors. Carrie Kelly Designs was created.

But now what, what is Interior Redesign? Interior Redesign is taking what you have and improving on it without the expense and time of a full remodel. It is really what I have always been doing, I do not enjoy the chaos of a remodel. A project that can be completed in a day, weekend or short amount of time is for me. Even just having a plan to do a project in stages is great. Sometimes you just need a fresh look at your space and move things around or repurpose what you already have. It’s amazing what a few changes can do to create a new look.

I am happy that I can incorporate my love of Initial Outfitters and their personalized pieces into my love of interior design. Carrie Kelly Designs has launched and I am so excited to help my clients create a new space that they will love for years to come. I am excited for this next adventure and what is to come. Is there anything you have been thinking about but haven’t had the courage to do yet? My advice is go for it. If you are passionate about something it will show to everyone. Take a chance. Anything is possible.

Summer Reads

August 17, 2020 No Comments

I have always had a love of reading. The last year I have not read as much as I would have liked. You know how it is, we get busy with life and doing so many other things that we sometimes forget about taking the time to do the things that bring us joy. Even though we have been at home so much more I have been very busy with classes and starting my design business, but I decided I also was going to make time for myself and to do what makes me happy. I had accumulated quite a few books that I had yet to read so that was my plan this summer, get back to my love of reading. These are just a few of the books I have been enjoying this summer.

My absolute hands-down favorite read of the summer is the All Souls Trilogy by Deborah Harkness. Thank you to fellow blogger Kristina Braly for the recommendation. The books have been made into a series on Sundance and I am watching it right now. The books are definitely better but I enjoy watching the characters come to life and compare them to what my vision was from reading the books. The trilogy is based on a witch and vampire love story and travels through time. A definite grown-up version of other vampire series. I intend to read the trilogy again because I am certain I will get so much more out of it the second time around.

I couldn’t resist Tinsley Mortimer’s Southern Charm. You may know her from The Real Housewives of New York City. I feel like this is a little bit based on Tinsley and her life. She was the “it girl” of New York society married to Topper Mortimer and fell from grace. Just a fun, beachy summer read.

A Palm Beach Wife by Susannah Marren is another perfect summertime read. Palm Beach is the epitome of summer and social scene. It’s a tale of not everything is as it appears to be. Is Faith Harrison the person everyone in Palm Beach thinks she is, the perfect wife, friend, and mother, or is she hiding something? This is a tale of secrets, lies, and ambition mixed with the vibe of Palm Beach.

Rebecca Wells Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood and Little Altars Everywhere are classics. Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood follows four lifelong friends from Louisiana on their journey through life, love, and loss. Little Altars Everywhere is the companion book and introduces the rest of the Walker family to us. These are a must-read for everyone and I am planning on reading them again.

Since deciding to work on starting my own business I thought a few business books would be appropriate. Business Boutique by Christy Wright is a must-read for any businesswoman. It is written and geared toward women business owners.

The last books I have been reading are motivational and about our purpose. Oprah’s Words That Matter is a collection of short stories to inspire and guide you. The Emotional Dictionary to the Soulful Self was written by Ingrid Essawova, who I am lucky enough to call my friend. This book deals with the emotional challenges that we face in life and gives solutions and ways to heal. It is in bullet-point form and easy to navigate and find what you are needing help with at any given moment.

emotional dictionary to the soulful self — Live life with purpose

As we get into the fall and winter season I plan on continuing reading even more. I enjoy an evening curled up by the fire, Finn and Ruby Sue in my lap, a cup of tea, and a great book. Let me know if you read any of these books, I would love to hear your thoughts on them. I would also love any suggestions for some new reads too.

Until next week,

Carrie

Enjoying the Last Bit of Summer

August 10, 2020 No Comments

I love the summer. Everyone is much more relaxed and not rushing around so much. even though this has certainly been a different summer for us all, I still make sure to savor and enjoy it. Late sunsets, cookouts, pool parties, beautiful gardens, and fresh fruits and vegetables from the local farms are all things that I look forward to every year.

Decorating the outdoor spaces can be fun too. A bar cart can be turned into the perfect station for all of your supplies. Adding some cute baskets for sunscreen, beach towels, outdoor speaker, and supplies keeps everything organized for you and your guests and it is easily wheeled in during inclement weather. I added some new beach towels and chair toppers from Initial Outfitters this year. Instead of a traditional monogram I thought some fun summer sayings be fun. They turned out great. Finn approves too. Finn loves the pool and usually swims a few laps every day. A monogrammed basket by the back door also stores extra beach towels, you can never have too many towels.

I have decorated our outdoor space in a tropical, flamingo theme. I found some great pillows and a side table at Pier 1 a few years ago. Pillows give the chairs and couches a little color and soften the lines on them. A little covered seating area is another must for some relief on those hot days. I spend quite a bit of time in the pool as well.

As much as I do enjoy summer I am looking forward to the transition to fall. Fall is such a beautiful time with the changing colors, leaves, and bonfires. I enjoy changing my decor for each season as well and have a few new pieces that I am working on. What do you love most about summer?

Carrie Kelly is an Interior Redesigner Industry Specialist and Lead Designer at Carrie Kelly Designs specializing in interior redesign, seasonal, and home decor helping clients create beautiful spaces in their homes. She is also an Independent Consultant with Initial Outfitters, a boutique featuring all things monogrammed and personalized for your unique style. Carrie is also the author of Pineapples and Sweet Tea, a Lifestyle blog.

Find her at: https://carriekellydesigns.com

Beauty

Favorite Summer Scents

August 3, 2020 No Comments

I love to switch out my perfumes and scents each season. Heavier, woodsy scents are great for fall and winter but spring and summer call for lighter scents. These are my top picks for summer.

Beach by Bobbi Brown is my absolute favorite. It is exactly what it says, beach. The scent is a mixture of suntan lotion and sand and really does make you feel like you are at the beach. Beach is my go-to scent for most of the summer.

A go-to summer scent

Aerin Lauder’s Hibiscus Palm is my next favorite. I love the light fresh scents of summer and Hibiscus Palm transports you to a lush, tropical garden without being heavy and overpowering. Aerin Lauder has a wonderful collection of perfumes and I have a few of her other scents as well. They are unique and I always am complimented on these scents when I’m wearing them.

The scent of summer

Jo Malone London is always on trend with its collection of perfumes. Tuberose Angelica is one of their intense cologne scents. It is close to their Vintage Gardenia which was my favorite scent but has now been discontinued. It’s a beautiful, fresh, floral scent that is perfect for summer. The intense collection is a little stronger and I love how you can combine the Jo Malone scents to create a unique scent. It makes your scent a very personal creation.

The perfect summer floral

Chanel is always a perfect, classic choice. L’eau No.5 is a much lighter version of the classic No.5. It’s a very fresh scent that is perfect for everyday wear.

Chanel leau no 5

Kate Spade In Full Bloom is another floral that I love for spring and summer. The Kate Spade collection is always on-trend. I find their scents to be very long-lasting and that is a real bonus during the heat of the summer.

A field of flowers

Bath and Body Works was a surprise favorite of mine. the Saltwater Breeze scent is so unique and I had never smelled anything like it before. It really is the scent of saltwater on the ocean. It is also a very affordable price point. I purchased the collection of perfume, body wash, body lotion, and even the candle. The candle fills the entire house with a wonderful fragrance.

If you are looking for a new summer scent, I hope you will check out one of my favorites. Let me know if you do.

Until next week,

Carrie

Travel, Uncategorized

Charleston & Isle of Palms

July 27, 2020 No Comments

Last spring, we were lucky enough to attend a round at The Masters. A once in a lifetime experience. We were only a few hours away from Charleston, so we decided to spend a few days in the Charleston area. A few days relaxing at the beach and enjoying all the area has to offer was the perfect way to spend the rest of the week. I love the South I am really a southern belle stuck in the Midwest.

There are so many beautiful resorts and beach properties to choose from, and we decided to stay at Wild Dunes Resort. Wild Dunes is on Isle of Palms, just a short drive from Charleston proper. The property and grounds are beautiful, and we chose to rent a townhome. The location was perfect, beachfront with a pool. Our unit had one bedroom and bath on the main level, with the living area, laundry, and kitchen. The upper level consisted of the master bedroom, bath, walk-in closet with a gorgeous view of the beach and ocean. The unit also had a nice balcony overlooking the water. I went out one morning and enjoyed a beautiful sunrise.

Wild Dunes consists of the main resort, The Boardwalk Inn, and many cute little villas and townhomes. A golf course and tennis courts are also on the property. A few shops and a spa line the boardwalk as well. We enjoyed dinner in the casual bar and sat by the fire pit in the evening in the most comfortable rockers. The staff was so accommodating and I know it is definitely a place I will visit again.

Isle of Palm is a combination of old beach homes and newer modern homes. It had a casual feel and we enjoyed exploring the shops. Coconut Joe’s is a must for beachfront dining, and they make a great daiquiri. I love going to the local spots when I travel. Miniature golf and dinner at an Irish pub made for a lovely evening. We spent two days just relaxing and enjoying the beach.

We headed into Charleston proper for a day of exploration. The old towns of the south are my favorite places to visit, so much history. You can just imagine the families that lived in these beautiful, old homes and the stories they could tell. I bet the balls and parties were simply amazing. I had to make a stop at Isaac Jenkins Mikell’s home. If you are a fan of the Bravo series Southern Charm you will recognize this house at Miss Patricia’s. I was waiting for Michael to come out and bring me a cocktail. We spent the day wandering along the old brick roads and looking at all of the architecture. The homes are truly stunning. Of course, I somehow managed to find the Lilly Pulitzer store on King Street. King Street is the high-end shopping and restaurant area. There were some adorable boutiques on the street. A bar-b-que restaurant was a nice break for lunch. Charleston is known for its amazing bar-b-que and it did not disappoint. Our last stop before we headed over the Ravenel Bridge was the local firehouse. Being a fire mom, I always like to check out the local firehouse.

If you have not been to Charleston, put it on your bucket list. It was everything that I hoped for and more. I am looking forwards to returning and exploring more that the area has to offer. One trip was not enough to see it all. Happy travels.

Carrie Kelly is an Interior Redesigner Industry Specialist and Lead Designer at Carrie Kelly Designs specializing in interior redesign, seasonal, and home decor helping clients create beautiful spaces in their homes. She is also an Independent Consultant with Initial Outfitters, a boutique featuring all things monogrammed and personalized for your unique style. Carrie is also the author of Pineapples and Sweet Tea, a Lifestyle blog.

Find her at: https://carriekellydesigns.com