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I've been wanting to share a home tour here since I started blogging! Working on our house has been quite the journey. Part of the reason I haven't ever hit publish on a home tour is because I feel like it's always going to be a work in progress. But, I found an album hidden away in a folder on my desktop of pictures I took when I first moved in and it inspired me to share our journey so far. 


A little background, first. My husband bought this house with his sister in 2006. Possibly the worst year to buy a house, but hey they didn't know that at the time. It's a 1950's bungalow, with a few quirks. And by a few, I mean every single thing about this house is weird and not done to code or in any sensical way. 
They did a ton of work when they bought the house, so I'm grateful for that. It was a blank slate when I came into the picture, which I was also happy about. I had lots of ideas and still have a lot of plans for this place! Newly weds have hardly any money though, and we've been forced to take it slow and do one thing at a time. And I think there will always been a next project around here. 
I started a dedicated page for our official 'Home Tour' up in the header. There you will  find a floor plan, and a few pictures from previous posts. Here on the blog I've already documented our guest bathroom remodel, our guest room and master bedroom refreshes, and our back porch makeover. I haven't shared pictures of our kitchen, office, living room or dining room - so that's what I'm doing now. 
Starting with the Living Room!

Our front door opens into our Living Room. There isn't much space for an entry way, but I do have a mirror and key hook right by the door. Other than that, the room is totally and completely dedicated to watching tv. Now, if this were any other house, I would hate that. I really think furniture should not be pointed at the tv, but rather be a place to gather and encourage conversation. 

Because of the way this room is laid out there aren't any other options. Trust me, I've tried every configuration possible. None of this upsets my husband at all, and he loves that the living room is laid out to best support movie watching! I've adapted though, if we want to talk or have people over to play a game or something, we do that in the dining room. 

So, this is what the room looked like about a year after we got married and I moved in. I have an earlier picture, but Blake is taking a nap on the couch in it, and it wouldn't be right to share that one here. When we first got married, we had a tan microfiber sectional and a brown recliner. I took these photos the day we got our leather furniture and added the white curtains. (Look at baby Delly! She must have been less than a year old)



I was in love with that shelving! It was so fun to switch up the pictures and decorations on that thing. I actually only took it down about a year ago. It became way too busy for my current style. (less is more!) 

Currently, we have the same couches and side tables. We have Blake's grandma's steamer trunk in one corner now and I love that piece so much. We've added a higher bookshelf for our movie collection, gotten a new tv, switched to an ottoman coffee table and changed up the decor for a more nautical look. 







The pugs couldn't not be in my pictures! They are a huge part of the living room decor. They are always in there, perched on the top of the couches - covering everything in dog hair. 

I'm actually surprised with how consistent this room has stayed. I guess I shouldn't be. When you have a great set of couches, all you really will ever need to change out are the toss pillows from time to time. The only thing that I know will change in here soon is the carpet! It was replaced when Blake bought the house, but now that's over 10 years old. And when you have pets!! I get our carpet cleaned every 6 months or so, and it always looked brand new afterwards, but not so much anymore. That's kinda how I know it's life is running low. (Whether we get carpet again or try out a hard floor remains to be decided!) 

Alright guys, leave a comment below if you are excited about this house tour! I'd love to hear your thoughts about glimpses into other people's homes. How do you feel about furniture pointed at the tv? Has your house changed a lot over the years or are you pretty consistent in what you like?

Home Tour! Starting with the Living Room.

Wednesday, May 31, 2017

What's In My Bag - pugsandpearls.com

What's In My Bag - pugsandpearls.com

I was cleaning out my purse, which needed to be done ages ago, and I looked over and everything was lined up so nicely! I snapped a quick picture, and thought I'd share what I put back in my bag. I actually didn't take that much out, but you know how gum wrappers and receipts wind up in there! 

These days I'm not carrying around my paper planner, and that has freed up a lot of real estate in my purse. I'm experimenting with going digital this year! If I don't like it, I plan to go right back to the Emily Ley planners

What I do carry around:
My Wallet
Blake bought me this wallet for our anniversary this year! It's the Kate Spade Neda Wallet in Off We Go. I don't even know what you'd call this color, but it may be my favorite color. This wallet is awesome. It's quite thin for being able to hold so much. There are plenty of slots for cards, as well as pockets for receipts and coupons.

Cosmetic Catch All
I loved my wallet so much I bought the Kate Spade Gia in Off We Go too. It's a great pouch for cosmetics, or anything really. I use it to hold my lip glosses and lotions. It's also plenty big if I need to bring touch-up makeup with me.

Gum
My gum chewing habit is sorta out of control. I'm paranoid about bad-breath. At our last Sam's trip I picked up a huge 20 pack of Orbit gum. I won't tell you how many I've already used up.

Lotion
My hands go through a lot. I hand wash dishes and I clean houses. There is nothing better than putting lotion on your hands when they feel parched. I threw this Eucerin lotion into our last Prime Pantry box and it's perfect for my purse. 

Ibuprofen and Headache Roller
I reach for my roller first. I made it out of coconut oil and peppermint essential oil and found these rollers on Amazon. (Label from Etsy!) When I feel a headache coming on I will roll it onto my wrists and behind my ears. It really works! I keep the Ibuprofen on hand just in case. I was grateful to have it the other day when my hips were especially sore after a workout. 

Pens
When I carried my paper planner, I actually had a whole bag full of colorful pens! I don't need every color of the rainbow anymore, but I still like to carry a few. My favorite pen is the Stabilo Point 88 pens.

Sunglasses
If I forget my sunglasses, my day is practically ruined. My eyes water a lot and sunglasses really help with that. Plus I hate squinting! 
I don't bother with expensive brands, because I know I will lose them or break them...or one of my pugs will get ahold of them. (Looking at you Winston!) Go for a pair like these sunglasses instead!

Eyeglasses
I don't wear these as much as I should. I only need glasses for distance, and in particular reading at a distance. (Think street signs.) The main reason is because they don't sit quite right on my head. I think one of my ears in lower than the other! I'd like to get a tortoise pair like these ones from Warby Parker.

Hair Ties
Notice the plural. I need 2 with me at all times. My hair is incredibly thick and I break a hair tie almost on a daily basis. If I'm desperate enough to need one and it breaks, I'm up the creek. It happens so often I carry double! 

Memory Cards
This is a work thing and a blogger thing! We take pictures of houses every day at work and we don't delete them until weeks later, because you never know! I can't tell you how many times the card was full and I had to go back in and carefully select pictures to erase. Carrying an extra card is very helpful! And of course a good blogger would carry her camera around at all times too...although I'm sure you noticed that my camera is not in my bag at the moment.

Phone Cord
Welcome to 2017! Definitely something you want with you, just in case. My phone requires a USB-C charger so not everyone has an extra one of those lying around. It's good to have when you need it!

Lip Balm
Because who likes chapped lips! I like Burt's Bees, like most people.

Car Sickness Essential Oils
I use Motioneaze, but you could probably make this yourself. I can get SO carsick, so I like to carry these drops with me. You just dab a few droplets behind your ears when you know you're going to get motion sick, or when you already feel bad. There are a few people I avoid riding with!

Phone
And, last but not least! My phone. I have a Google Pixel XL and I couldn't love it more. All my apps were Google before anyway, so it's perfect for what I need it for. Google Photos is life changing, by the way! I do have the XL, and it's quite heavy! I used to have a Samsung Note, so I'm used to big phones, but this one is heavier or something. I'd be lost without my PopSocket! (I have the Rose Gold one, it's so pretty!)

Leave a comment below if any of these items are in your bag too! I'd love to hear what you absolutely can't leave the house without. 

This post contains affiliate links for your shopping convenience! See my blog disclosure here.

What's In My Bag - Come Look Inside!

Monday, May 29, 2017

I fired my 'Instagram Husband' last fall and while I probably should feel bad about that, we are both happier this way! I had to beg him to take a quick shot or two on our front porch on our way out. He was always less than thrilled. My cousin-in-law Chabeli has been taking my outfit photos since November, and it's so fun to work with a real photographer! She is amazing and you will continue to hear me brag on her forever. (I guest posted for her in April!)

She sends me tons of great images to use for my outfit posts, including some that I have been saving for a blooper reel! We are laughing and talking throughout all of our shoots, so many of the images are me mid belly laugh or making some kind of crazy expression in response to something she told me about her day. There is also a lot of hair fixing and lip gloss applying behind the scenes. I even had one guy want to pose with me! 















These pictures crack me up. My dad always says I never have to tell anyone what I'm thinking, because my face says it all. Everytime I see these digital albums I have to admit he's right. I post the pretty shots of me at my best angles, but these truly show my personality and how I can never do anything seriously. 


Leave a comment below if you want to see more in the future! Do these pictures ruin my blogger image? haha! 

Blogger Bloopers

Wednesday, May 24, 2017

I've so enjoyed reading some of these 'Three Things' surveys that have been floating around! Learning about other people is one of my favorite things to do, so maybe you're interested in my answers as well. (See Erica, Julie and Samantha's posts! Hi Ladies!) 


Three Things I'd Never Give Up
I can nail it down to the 3 F's : Family, Friends and my Faith! Those relationships mean the most to me and I would never want to give them up. I think I could survive without everything else.

Three Favorite Vegetables
Tomatoes, in every form. Cucumbers, for that cold crunch. & Carrots, but only when they are raw. I really should be better about eating veggies! 

Three Shows I've Watched Faithfully Till The End
Netflix has helped me cheat here, so I'll go with the shows I watched weekly on TV! LOST was something I never missed. It was actually something that Blake and I talked about the first time we met! Smallville was also something I watched every episode of, even though I started it in re-runs on ABC Family. I caught up and watched the last bit in real time. And more recently we really loved Person of Interest and watched every week until it's premature canceling. I've watched TONS on Netflix though, like Gilmore Girls and stuff like that. 

Three Places I Want To Visit In The US
I'd love to see the Pacific Northwest, specifically the Oregon coast. I've been to California, but I was only 14 and would love love love to go again. I've also seen tons of blog posts about Charleston recently and now that is definitely on the list. 

Three Places I Want To Visit Outside The US
This list is much longer than 3! My top three places to visit are Iceland (because of Kaelene's blog, it's seriously the top of my list), Scotland (accents!) and I'd like to stay in one of those resorts on the water in Fiji

Three Things I Always Have With Me
My phone, my keys and probably my wallet. That's all you really need right?

Three Things That Are Always In My Car
I try to keep my car clutter free but I'd say: extra napkins, reusable grocery bags and hand sanitizer. Because who likes to think about all the germs on gas pumps?! 

Three Most Recent Calls Were From/To
Blake, my sister Amy and Chabeli who I butt dialed. I feel like who I texted might be more revealing, because let's be real, I rarely call anybody but my husband, sister and mom. 

Three Most Often Used Makeup Products
If nothing else I definitely have on the Stila Stay All Day EyelinerTOO Faced Better Than Sex Mascara and Burt's Bees Lip Balm. I really don't wear a lot of makeup, but with blonde eyelashes, a little mascara always makes me feel a little more bright-eyed. 

Three Things That Make Me Laugh
Conversations with my niece and nephew. One is almost 3 and the other is almost 4, and they are literally SO funny. The things that are going on in their head is amazing. (Honorable mention, my other nephew who just turned 2, but he doesn't say much. He is however hysterical when he starts dancing!) Conversations with my husband. My favorite thing in the world is to make him laugh, so we are always having funny conversations. Certain shows like The Office or Arrested Development are always funny, no matter how many times I watch it.

Three Things That Make Me Cry
Whenever sad music plays. Music tugs on the heartstrings, and a well placed song can really bring on the waterworks for me! Seeing a proposal. Doesn't matter if it's on Youtube or the Bachelor, I tear up everytime. And annoyingly, anytime I get mad or embarrassed. It's a dumb involuntary response! 

Have you done this tag? Leave a link below, I'd love to read it! Leave a comment if you and I have any 3 things in common!
This post contains affiliate links!

Three Things Tag

Monday, May 22, 2017

Blake and I swore we'd never go back to Walt Disney World in May ever again, after I almost had a heat stroke one May a few years ago! We made an exception to go to the parks with my family this past weekend. It was pretty hot, but not the worst we've experienced. 

We had a great time, as usual! It's SO nice to be able to visit frequently. We never feel pressured to see and do everything in one day. I see so many stressed out families and it's nice not to be one of them. This trip was all about being with family and getting to know my brother's girlfriend. But, if we're all honest, it's all about my nephew! He's the only grandkid and everything he does is adorable. We had a blast taking him to meet Baymax and seeing Disney through his eyes! 

Here a few snapshots of our weekend! I alway intend on taking a million photos to blog about and I never succeed. I'm okay with that though, because I think that means I'm enjoying the moment! 












Hope you guys had a great weekend, and happy Monday!

A Few Snapshots From Our Latest Disney Trip!

Monday, May 15, 2017


Hello!

Hi friends! I'm Kristen, and this is the Life and Style of an early 30's Floridian living the Best Life Ever, with her husband and three pugs. Runner | Avid Reader | Small Shop Owner

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