a collection of doors

Today's tune: Awake My Soul by Mumford and Sons.

While flipping through my Real Simple magazine, I came across the section "decorate your doorway." It has three front door examples and how to accompany them with the right outdoor accessories - "bringing polish to any style of house." Sprucing up your front door can be an easy makeover and can create better first impressions. I'm so glad I came across this article because it reminded me of some interesting pictures I took of doors while I was studying abroad in Italy. After having a bad week, looking through all these pictures made me happy. Every single door was unique with so much character. I thought I could one day get these pictures developed and hang them on a wall in a large series: a collection of doors. It would be like reliving my abroad experience every day. If I could only get my own place!!! I have so many ideas and can't wait to one day decorate my own house. Taking artistic themed pictures is a great way to create your own art on a wall. I like the organization of the series shots. Take a look at the treasures I found while exploring different parts of Italy...

Now, here's the Real Simple article guide that breaks down architectural door styles [modern, traditional, and cottage] and shows how to give off the best first impression when decorating your doorway.

Click here to see the article online.

swimsuit season

Hello blogworld.. So sorry I've neglected dorabelle for this long. I was out of town on a little beach trip with some friends trying to acquire golden goddess status and doing other things, so I haven't gotten a chance to post anything. I hope everyone is enjoying the first few days of Spring! It feels like "swimsuit season" outside. Go take your allergy medicine, and stay tuned for another post this week!

shoulda put a ring on it

I know the obvious Beyonce jam is expected here, however I've been listening to Adele all day so I'm going to suggest Set Fire to the Rain from her new album.

Sorry if "shoulda put a ring on it" gets stuck in your head anyway.. oopsie!

I went to the little bead and jewelry making store, Perch, in Auburn last week. I made a fun ring as a b-day present to myself, but left there wondering what I could have done different to another one with other beads. I always do this. After I make something, I automatically edit it and envision other directions it could have gone. So I decided.. why not try to make some on my own! I got the necessary goods: thin gold jewelry wire and natural looking beads (this took me FOR.EV.ER! Perch has an awesome selection.. places around Newnan do not.) However, I ended up with some things I really liked! 

_Steps: 1. size 2. string 3. wrap. 

I have designed two rings so far.. maybe after more practice I can start taking orders! ;) These rings can be go-out dressy or every-day casual, especially depending on how simple or intricate I make them. 

..if you like it then, you should put a ring on it.

a southern spring

A song about HOME - The House that Built Me by Miranda Lambert

There are some things that define the start of spring in the South that I always look forward to like, the bright white blossoms of the bradford pear tree and pretty pink cherry blossom petals. Then there are the things that I will not look forward to like, pollen allergies and dust in my contacts stirred up by the lawnmower. I guess it's the price we pay to observe some of God's beautiful spring creations. Whether lining the Dyer's driveway in my old neighborhood in Milledgeville, South Donahue Drive in Auburn, or randomly but perfectly placed in my Newnan neighborhood, bradford pear trees remind me of home. I spent a little while this afternoon photographing the blooming trees in our hood. And I got a few good pictures of the Toomer's Corner oaks while I was in Auburn yesterday. I hope to make some creative wall art out of these photos sometime. Enjoy.



strike a little posie

Sweet tune of the day: Strawberry Swing puts me in a good Spring mood. I realize it's not quite "Spring" yet.. but I'm ready to shake the cold winter blues. Plus, it's almost my birthday.. and I dislike when it's cold on my birthday. [hush up, amy and kiki]

After singing "ring around the rosie, pocket full of posies" for an hour last Saturday while jumping around in a moon bounce with my little 3 year-old niece, Maddie, I thought how neat it was that little rhymes and songs like that stick around for over 100 years.. and little kids still love them. And I, still love to make up my own lyrics to them. "ring around the rosie, strike a little posie. new shoes, new shoes. don't fall down!" Especially not in these cute new Madden Girl wedges I got at DSdub with my rewards points this week. I love floral and couldn't pass 'em up. They scream spring fun and I'm hoping to ward off the winter cold relapses in these prissies. Pink and turquoise are in this season, which makes me very happy. Here are a few things I have acquired somewhat-recently that are transitioning me into spring:

1. shoes by Madden Girl [Klenn]

2. scarf I got in Rome last summer

3. dress by Peppermint

4. sandals by Nine West

5. shirt by Lauren Conrad; pumps by J.Simp

6. hair accessory from outdoor stand in Rome [thanks, Amy]

stationery experiment v2.0

"She used to tie her hair up in ribbons and bows, sign her letters with x's and o's" - American Girl by Trisha Yearwood

If you can't tell, I'm into making cards and other paper goods. I enjoy designing things on the computer [like the valentines cards], but I also like to create personalized and unique postcards or notes from scratch with materials that I have. The beauty of this is that you can take a plain notecard or piece of cardstock and transform it in any way you want: as simple or as creative as you please.. and for cheap! Here, I made some sample notecards out of a bright colored mat stack I found at TJ Max for 3 bones, various ribbon scraps or $1 ribbon [weakness] from Michael's, leftover fabric from other projects, and buttons from grandma's sewing drawer. [I'm a sucker for buttons] They make each card unique and represent a little part of the past that I feel like I'm giving to my friends and family. I used a hole punch and super glue gel in this little project, but hot glue would also work. I plan on doing more of these stationery experiments. Get excited.

Happy card making! xoxo!

someone's in the kitchen with dinah

I haven't thought about that little folk tune in a while, but doing a blog about contemporary-country kitchens has gotten it stuck in my head! I found a cover to the song by LiliAna Rose - a contemporary folk artist, on youtube. She has an amazing voice and a good pandora station!

I'm excited to post about beautiful kitchen interiors that I have found from my various magazines in the past month! I have fallen for "white on white." It just look so stinkin' clean in these pictures! If we were to try that, there would probably be dirty little paw prints all over the counters from a certain curious cat. What I also love about these kitchens are the lighting fixtures over the island/bar area. How cool are those lanterns?! Mom and I have been pondering over re-doing her kitchen. I think we're going to think Tuscan and revisit some of our pictures from Italy.. maybe include a travertine-esque backsplash and repaint the cabinets white, or [my vote- get new ones!] I'm also a fan of the different kitchen ingredients like sugar, rice, pasta noodles, etc. in the simple, clear containers. Little pops of color can do the trick in a white kitchen. Hope you enjoy some of these ideas! Let me know what you think! 

1. architectural digest: understated beauty
2. southern living: let there be white
3. house beautiful: fresh start
4. veranda: marsh magic
5. southern living: georgia idea house  [in senoia, ga - only 20 minutes from my house. i went, and it was a beaut]
6. southern living: in bloom

happy valentine's weekend!