32 & Thankful

Today is my birthday.

Today I am 32.

Today I am healthy.

Today I have the most supportive and wonderful family and friends.

Today I have a job. 

Today I have a car that is all paid for.

Today I have a warm and cozy home.

Today my mom is coming to see me for the weekend.

Today is a gift.

Today I look forward to the future.

Today I am incredibly thankful.

xo,

Image via

Blogiversary & A West Elm Giveaway!!

I mentioned on Monday that my blogiversary was a few weeks ago. I totally missed it. It was right after busy season ended and my mind was on relaxation and sleep. 

But I am awake now, and I have a little speech prepared. Just a little one.

First, I want to thank you for reading my blog. Savor Home was the creative outlet that I desperately needed a year ago (and still do). At first, I felt like I was talking to myself and was not really sure of what I was doing. Never did I think that so many of you would eventually be reading, listening and looking forward to what I have to say each day. I've always loved fashion and decor, but never did I think that I would love photography, food styling and writing as much as I do now. Never did I think that I would "meet" so many wonderful bloggers whose comments and thoughts make me smile and make me feel validated. I'm so thankful for you!

In celebration of this special day (that was really a few weeks ago), I have a fab giveaway for ya! Many of you commented on these lovely West Elm throws that I posted last week. I bought one last week and they are just as soft as they look in the photo! So I thought I would give one away to a lucky reader! Here is what you need to do to win:

{Mandatory... leave a separate comment for each!}

Follow Savor Home via Google Friend Connect or Bloglovin'

Visit West Elm and tell me your favorite color

{Additional Ways to Enter... leave a separate comment for each!}

Follow Savor Home on Twitter

Blog about this giveaway

Tweet about this giveaway

The winner will be announced on Wednesday, November 16th!!

Good luck!

xo, 

Spaghetti With Clams

I entered Giada de Laurentiis's Facebook photo contest last night! She is my favorite chef and I am so excited! The rules of the contest are simple:  She chose 50 of her recipes and the challenge is to make and photograph one of them. The photos that receive the most votes are reviewed by her and she picks the winners!

I picked Giada's Spaghetti With Clams. Why? It's one of my favorite Italian dishes, but I have never cooked it myself. I also thought the rustic look of the clams would photograph nicely. I knew I picked the right recipe when I shot this photo...

I took several photos of the finished dish, but I could only submit one photo. I feel like I took 100 photos! I was nervous! But I was able to narrow it down to these...

Up until last night, I had no idea which one I was going to choose. But I ultimately decided on this one...

It was just crisper and cleaner than the other photos. Giada is very "clean," so this photo just reminded me of something she might like.

Now about the recipe. SO GOOD! I was trying to hurry and take the photos before it got cold. I was a little late, but it was still good! It's so fresh and only took about 20 minutes to make. That includes prep time. I think it would make the perfect weeknight meal.

If you are on Facebook, I would love for you to help a girl out! Voting starts on Monday, November 14th, but you can leave comments on the Facebook page now if you like! Click here to view my entry!


Linked up with Tasty Tuesdays!

Weekend in Eight

Hi guys! I hope you had a great weekend. Last Monday, I did a post called "Weekend in Ten." I really enjoyed putting that post together, so I might make it a weekly thing. Today I am going to go tell ya eight things. Why eight? I dunno. Just want to keep things fresh I guess. Here goes...

1. Remember these riding boots that I purchased? Well, I had to return those babies. My normal size was too big and the next size down was too small. Oh well. Any recommendations for other riding boots are welcome. I'm looking for brown ones...

2. Yesterday, I photographed my entry for Giada's photo contest. This is one of the photos I took. I have so much fun styling food! I will do a full post on the recipe and the details of the contest tomorrow.

3. Max and I took our holiday card photos this weekend. This was our setup. A few scratches and a torn pair of H&M leggings later, I just had to let him go. He showed out, which is not like him! But my photographer still got some great photos. I've got my eye on a few cards by Minted...

4. I tried Pinkberry's new flavor, Peppermint, this weekend. Incredibly delicious. It tastes like Christmas.

5. I honestly don't watch that much football, but my eyes were glued to the TV Saturday night! I graduated from the University of Alabama, so Roll Tide for life!

6. I will be one year older this week. For my birthday, I would like for the concept of calories to be nonexistent so that I could eat an entire cake like this one. Thanks.

7. I got my extra hour of sleep yesterday. I feel much better now.

8. I sort of missed my one year blogiversary. It was right after busy season ended and I totally forgot about it. That's ok. I've got a fab giveaway planned on Wednesday to celebrate this wonderful thing called blogging.

Happy Monday!

xo,

Images 1/5

Amazing Grace!

Hi! I am so excited that today is F-R-I-D-A-Y!! My weekend is off to a great start. Last night I went to the Design* Sponge book signing at West Elm and met the amazing Grace Bonney! 

Grace is such a doll on her blog and in person...

Bad, bad iPhone photo, but I didn't want to take my Canon and look anymore starstruck than I already was...

While she was signing my book, she and I were talking about the crazy traffic here at Atlanta. She was tweeting about it before she arrived. It was raining last night, so she experienced it at its worst. She gracefully thanked me for coming. I'm so excited that I met her!

I intended to leave after the signing.

But everything in the store was 15% off, sooooo I had to walk around...

I've been a little obsessed with globe pendants lately. They are so simple, but exude so much style. 

If you are an avid reader of my blog, can you tell that I love mirrors? I do- especially circle mirrors. I thought this one was beautiful...

I didn't buy the lighting or the mirror, but I did buy this $5 bowl for my entry table. I would say that is all I bought...

But I would be lying to you.

I bought a few more things that I will share with you later. And...

I actually bought something for one of you...

Stop by next week for all the details!

Happy weekend!

xo,

On Sale At West Elm

I will be at West Elm later this week for a Design*Sponge book signing event. I can't wait to meet Grace! I have already thought about my trip to West Elm and have told myself, "window shopping only." However, they have an incredible sale going on, so that thought might be out the window...

Favorite Throw (perfect for adding a splash of color) $23.99

Woven Seagrass Pendant (I see a trio of them in a long hallway or one over a kitchen sink)  $64.99

Flow Dinnerware (I love the color and they would be perfect for photographing food) $19 - $25

Navy Rope Pillow Cover (navy is really getting my attention these days) $14.99

Just a few of my favorites. Wish me and my credit card luck...

Chocolate Peppermint Molten Cakes

I am a chocoholic who is already thinking about Christmas dessert. 

I'm a bit of a planner ya see...

I think this recipe would be perfecto.

Mom, I'm making this for Christmas dessert, ok?

via Sprouted Kitchen

My Weekend In 10

Hi! I hope you had a great weekend. Mines was really great. I spent the weekend with my parents. It was my first time seeing them since July. We went to their college football game and spent time relaxing  in their newly renovated home that is amazingly gorgeous. I didn't have time to take photos, but will certainly take some over the holidays. 

Speaking of photos, this post is photo-less. I hope that's ok. It's Sunday night and I am wearing prescription sunnies as I am writing this post. A hot cup of tea is on the nightstand. Migraine. Bedtime is very soon. So I thought I would write a little post about 10 random things I did mixed with some random thoughts I had over the weekend. Hope ya like it...

1. I almost finished The Help over the weekend. My dad asked me to watch the movie with him in his new Man Cave over the holidays. His request warmed my heart. The little things...

2. I woke up to my mom's whole wheat banana pancakes on Saturday morning. They are the BEST! Her secret: applesauce instead of vegetable oil. Try it.

3. There were women walking around in 5 inch heels at the football game on Saturday. Don't ask. I wore these boots by Aerosoles over some black leggings with this sweater by H&M and felt stylish and most importantly, comfortable. Five inch heels... Geez.

4. The most played song on my iPod right now is "Paradise" by Coldplay. I wore it out on the way to my parents house and back home. 

5. I added Ree Drummond's blog, The Pioneer Woman, to my blogroll this weekend. It will be there forever. I spent an hour reading her blog over the weekend and I laughed so hard. She is an amazing cook, writer and mom who couldn't be more honest. She recently flooded her kitchen. I highly recommend you to read that post. 

6. I just remembered another song that I like. I never thought I would say this, but I like a song called "Christmas Eve" by oh gosh... Justin Bieber. I never thought in a million years that I would like a song by "The Beebs." It will be out on iTunes tomorrow. Can't wait. Can't believe I just said that...

7. My favorite chef, Giada de Laurentiis, is currently hosting a Facebook contest. Make one of her recipes, style it and photograph it. She picks the best photograph. Right.up.my.alley. I'll be working on it this weekend...

8. My dishwasher is ready to be unloaded. I wish it would magically unload itself. Oh I wish my suitcase from the weekend would magically unpack itself, too.


9. Why is the time change so late this year?? I am dying for that extra hour of sleep right now...


10. I am so thankful for migraine meds. I am already feeling better. Perhaps blogging made me feel better, too. Maybe there is something to doing what you love...


Happy Monday. And Happy Halloween! I just remembered that I forgot to pick up some candy...


xo,