Next time you're in Charlotte

The next time you are in Charlotte, you will have to visit three of my favorite home decor stores. They are all within 10 minutes of each other. Let me know what you find!

Tennille & Co.

2823 Selwyn Ave.

Charlotte, NC 28209

I must admit that I wish I could decorate my whole house with this store. There is such a good mix of traditional and contemporary home decor here. Tennille and Co. has a warehouse sale twice a year and the savings are amazing!

Blackhawk Hardware

4225 Park Road Shopping Center

Charlotte, NC 28209

You name it, Blackhawk Hardware has it. They carry all hardware, bathroom decor, seasonal decor, kitchen items (table linens, dishes, pots, etc...), garden tools and plants, and so much more. I could spend hours just looking around in this store and it's all just practical stuff.

Cottage Chic

1232 East Blvd
Charlotte, NC 28203

Cottage Chic has an online store too and they sell the majority of their furniture there. This particular location has luxurious bedding, none of which fits in my budget, but I love looking at it. They also have a variety of designer clothes, jewelry, stationary, baby items, handbags, and various other gifts. I secretly want to own a store like this one when I grow up. I promise you'll love it.

Who needs breakfast in bed...

when you can have it here?

These breakfast rooms just look so warm and inviting. I'd like to wake up, have a cup of coffee and a banana pancake while reading a magazine in one of these rooms. Now that says 'good morning'. Have a wonderful weekend.

I adore this built-in bench.

Two of my favorite things are...

white vases and blue hydrangeas

hence, these were the centerpieces at my wedding.

It's been a hectic week and this picture just makes me smile.

I hope it brings a smile to your face too. Happy Wednesday.

Seriously Simple Pasta...

Pasta with roasted cherry tomatoes and fresh basil

Sorry for the blurry photo from my cookbook, but I forgot to take a picture of the finished product and if you are like me, then you need visuals too. This is a very simple and yummy dinner.

1 1/2 pounds ripe cherry tomatoes, halved

4 garlic cloves, minced

1/2 cup fresh French bread crumbs

1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Salt and pepper to taste

1/4 cup olive oil

1 pound penne pasta

1/2 cup finely chopped fresh basil

1. Preheat oven to 400 F. Put the tomatoe halves in a large baking dish.

2. In a small bowl, combine the garlic, bread crumbs, cheese, salt, and pepper. Spoon evenly over the tomatoes. Spoon the olive oil evenly over the mixture.

3. Roast the tomatoes for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the mixture is bubbly, browned, and slightly thickened.

4. In a large pot of salted boiling water, cook the pasta for about 10 minutes. Drain well.

5. Add the pasta to the tomato mixture in the baking dish. Add the basil and toss to combine.

I think adding chicken or grilled shrimp would be good with this too. Enjoy!

Bake It Pretty

I don't really consider myself much of a baker, but BakeItPretty.com makes me want to get in the kitchen, put my apron on and start baking. The orange and white polka dot baking cups would be perfect for a Clemson tailgate!

Top o' the mornin' to ya

If you have not tried Starbucks oatmeal, then you are missing out. I just tried it for the first time and I'm hooked. Your plain oatmeal comes with a packet of brown sugar, dried berries, and assorted nuts. Very tasty and warm. You should welcome the fall season with one. Along with a pumpkin spice latte of course!

Labor Day...

I can't say that my Labor Day was free of labor, but it was a very productive day full of laundry and cleaning. It was completely satisfying!

Don't feel too bad for me though because I spent the majority of the weekend in the beautiful mountains of North Carolina with my husband, dad, mom, sister, brother-in-law, and my sweet niece Leighton.