All Posts - A Beautiful Mess

9/29

At Home with Jacki Moseley in Springfield, Missouri

By A Beautiful Mess

Today we have an extra special At Home With feature for you guys—from our very own Jacki Moseley. All you avid ABM readers probably already know Jacki as she is our Community Engagement Manager, meaning she’s the sweet gal behind the Instagram, support emails, and blog comments. Jacki does SO many things at ABM that I think the whole thing would stop working without her (I’m not joking—really, she keeps the machine moving). She also has a passion for vintage, as you can tell from her Etsy shop The Paisley Suitcase. Her house is insanely adorable with too many cute details to count. So we were so, so pleased when she agreed to share her space with our ABM community.

Coffee table/Amazon, Wooden legs (spray painted)/Home Depot, Starburst mirror/Pier 1.

“Totally blushing right now, Emma. I’m SO excited to share my home with you guys today. I’ll start with a little background info. My uncle bought this amazing late 1920s home a few years ago, and I’ve been renting it from him ever since. I was pretty content in my 700 square ft. apartment, but I mean… hello! Instant upgrade. I love everything vintage and old architecture makes me super happy. So this place has been an absolute dream to live in and decorate.

“I love decorating with a lot of color so everything really stands out against the white walls. The teal couch was Elsie’s, and it’s by far my favorite thing in this room. I had a yellow couch before this and had WAY too much gold and brown in here. I felt really inspired to add even more colorful decor and redecorate after I replaced the couch. Sometimes that’s all it takes to get in the mood to redo things!

Engineer print/Staples, Vase/Target, Table/Hobby Lobby.

“If you know me, then it’s pretty obvious that I’m 100% in love with my dog, Kingston. And when people know that, you receive a lot of Boston terrier gifts. I love this old book, and it’s the perfect centerpiece for my coffee table. Just a note on that. I’m not the craftiest person in the world, but a can of spray paint can do wonders. 🙂 I painted the wooden legs yellow, and I love how it looks with the couch.

“A common theme in my home is having keepsakes from my family around. My grandma has given me a lot of hand-me-downs over the years, like the cool wicker chair in the living room. The engineer print is an old photo of my other grandma (bottom right) and her friends. It’s by far my favorite photo, and I love seeing it on the wall everyday. My family has owned an office supply store in downtown Springfield for over 70 years. I have a lot of little memories from it, like my great-grandfather’s business card and other items from the original location.

Rug/Amazon.

“I kept the decor pretty minimal in this room, but I love how the blue rug and bright white hutch are the main focus. It has an original flour sifter inside and it’s perfect for storage. The printer’s drawer was my grandma’s. I used to play with the little trinkets when I was a kid! It’s really fun to add to the collection when I come across them at the flea market.

Tassel garland/Love Garlands on Etsy, Fireplace screen/Amazon (painted).

“I love that I can display my favorite glassware and knick knacks in the kitchen display cabinet. I found the bar cart at my favorite flea market. The colored aluminum shot glass and shaker set is the best!

Hand towels/Amazon.

“The house is very close to its original form, but the bathroom has been renovated since I moved in. My uncle has amazing taste, and I couldn’t be happier with how this room turned out. We removed the bathtub and put in a walk-in shower, chose black and white subway tile all around, and penny tile for the floors. It really fits with the era of the home. The old medicine cabinet (found it on eBay) is great for bathroom storage and my old perfume bottle collection.

Planter/Lowes.

“I kept my bedroom pretty simple, focusing on white and airy elements. I chose mint and peach as the main colors for this room based on a photo I took of the Loveless Cafe sign in Nashville. This cart was an estate sale find, and I couldn’t imagine a better spot for my mom’s old Dr. Seuss books.

Mirror set/All Modern, Comforter and Rug/Amazon, Pillows/Target.

P aper lanterns, crystal drawer pulls/Amazon.

“Little details like this make my heart so happy. I’m still pinching myself over this home tour, so thanks so much for reading! And a special thanks to Janae Hardy for making me fall in love with this home all over again.”

You can follow Jacki on Instagram and visit her Etsy shop here. xo

Credits//Author: Jacki Moseley. Photography: Janae Hardy.

29 Comments | leave a comment

9/28

Laura’s Backyard Tour (Before + After!)

Before/After, Home Decor, Home Tour: Laura, Outdoor Spaces

By Laura Gummerman

If you are anything like me, you are all about the backyard living. Weekend hangs in lawn chairs with magazines or cocktails on the porch on a summer night are what summers are made of around here. Unfortunately, when we moved in last summer, the back porch was, well, not quite a cozy spot. It felt bare and sterile and really needed some thoughtful touches to make it feel homey and cared for. One year (and a few DIY projects later), and we finally have a back porch that we are happy to hang out on, and I wanted to share it with you today!

As you can see in the before photo, we also had the house painted in the last year, which made a huge difference in the overall vibe of the house. The backyard just didn’t have any personality before, although it did have a Lion, Witch, and the Wardrobe type lamp at the corner of the cement deck. Since I wasn’t planning on meeting Mr. Tumnus there anytime soon, I was pretty happy to have that finally removed! Instead I created some outdoor patio lighting that runs off a movable pole to create more of a party feel at night.

I love these vintage wire recliners that add to the mid-century feel. It can be hard sometimes to find outdoor vintage items in good shape, so I was happy to steal these from a friend who couldn’t use them anymore (pillows are from Target).

I wanted to create a bit of separation between the carport and the deck, so I built this trellis from a design I saw in a 60s magazine ad to keep the spaces separate while not blocking out the view of the woods. Check out the DIY post to see how much that cactus in the middle has grown just this summer—it’s crazy!

I love having these mid-century inspired outdoor planters to flank the sides of the back door steps. Those monstera plants inside are probably my favorite kind of greenery at the moment.

I try to do a lot of cactus and succulents outside because they always seem to thrive in the sunlight whereas their indoor counterparts usually don’t last as long. Sometimes I put certain ones outside each summer just to get that growth spurt before bringing them back in each winter.

While the fan palms planted in the rock planter should be able to last the winter outside, all the other plants will have to come in until springtime. So the house is extra full of plants in the colder months (which is fine by me as it makes the indoors feel more tropical).

I’ve had that simple round patio table around for a few years (just a thrifting find), and while it’s nothing special, I think it works well with the white metal dining chairs and pretty patio umbrella.

To create a more custom space, I painted this black and white tile pattern on the floor, and it really gives the space a pop of pattern and personality. For someone who also changes their mind a lot, a painted deck means I can repaint a new pattern whenever I get tired of the old one!

Thanks for joining us to view a bit of our backyard setup! Lately the cooler fall nights have been perfect for stargazing and cuddling up with a drink of some sort. Hopefully we’ll have a few more months of outdoor living before the Nashville winter hits! xo. Laura

Credits // Author: Laura Gummerman, Photography: Laura Gummerman and Todd Gummerman. Photos edited with A Beautiful Mess actions.

28 Comments | leave a comment

9/28

Sister Style: Exciting Times

Sister Style, Style

By Emma Chapman

I feel so STOKED for the next few months—there’s some exciting times ahead. Mainly I’ll be traveling to Nashville to visit Elsie three times in the next two months. Yes, it’s mostly for work-related reasons, but I guess one of the new benefits of my job is I get to visit my sister in her cool city. So I can’t complain. 🙂 The seven hour drive gives me plenty of time to catch up on all my favorite podcasts and also talk to myself like a crazy lady. Ha! But really, it just helps me process sometimes. I talk to myself when I walk our dogs around our neighborhood too, and I’m pretty sure by this point our neighbors are unsure about me. 🙂

I’m also really excited for a few fun things happening with ABM in the coming months. We have a big project planned for next month that involves giving back to both our communities, and we’re going to get you all involved—so that should be fun. I’m also sort of interested in trying out FB Live videos. Do you guys watch those? Would you be interested in seeing us do that from time to time? Idk.

Emma’s Wearing: Plant lady shirt/Oui Fresh, Collar shirt/ShopSosie, Jeans/CP Jeans, Shoes/Circus by Sam Edelman (similar), and Purse/Fossil.

What about you, Sister? What’s got you excited lately—other than me visiting, obviously. 🙂

So many exciting things going on over here! This week I am filming my first online class that is almost entirely a video class. Really excited to teach this way because it’s a way I enjoy learning.

This past year went by in such a blur, I’m excited to slow down (although this season isn’t feeling very slow so far) and nest this winter. I feel equal parts business minded and homemaker minded. I want to exercise my homemaker side more, and I’m not just talking about decorating. I would really like to throw parties and have people over more often. That’s something I’m excited about. OMG—and Friendsgiving! My favorite tradition is coming up very soon!!

Jeremy and I have some exciting things going on over here (#notpregnant) that I will share with you soon!

Elsie’s Wearing: Dress/Pixie Market (similar), Sunnies/Zero UV, Bag/OuiFresh, Clogs/Swedish Hasbeens.

Credits //Author: Emma Chapman and Elsie Larson. Photography: Janae Hardy and Amber Ulmer.

26 Comments | leave a comment

9/27

A Beautiful Mess Favorite Camera Gear!

Photography Tips, Tips, Window Shopping

By A Beautiful Mess

As you can probably imagine, we get a lot of questions here at the blog about what our favorite camera gear is. For that reason, every so often we like to update you guys and give you the inside scoop about what camera gear we are loving (and don’t worry, the items have a range of prices depending on your budget)! The list has a few reliable standards as well as some new items we’ve discovered along the way. So let’s dive right in!

1. Canon 5D Mark III: This is the camera that we’ve all been using for years now, and we LOVE it! It’s amazing how much more you can fit into a full frame camera shot, and since we switched over, we hardly ever have to pull out the wide angle lens anymore. It’s great in low light situations, can handle a higher ISO, and while it is a lot more expensive than a starter camera, it’s definitely an investment that we were so glad we made!

2. Canon RC-6 Wireless Remote Controller: Most DSLR cameras already come with a self-timer function, but it’s really handy to have a remote to take selfies or any other kind of photo where you don’t want to run back and forth for each snap. The Canon RC-6 is a great choice, but we love this remote as well.

3. Wacom Tablet: This tablet is great for adding handwriting or drawing to photos and makes certain editing tasks a lot easier as well. There are a couple of good models out there for less than $100, but this is the one that we’ve been using (the newest version of it is this one).

4. Cute Camera Straps: Camera accessories don’t have to be basic! Get yourself a few cute straps to switch out and be a shutterbug in style.

5. White Balance Cards: Emma swears by these cards to get her white balance just right, and these are small enough to throw into your camera bag without taking up all your space.

6. Canon EOS 80D: If you want to up your camera game but aren’t ready for the price jump of a full frame camera like the Mark III, then this 80D may be the perfect middle ground for you. We have all used at least one of the previous versions of this camera (starting as far back as the 20D), and it’s a great model for bloggers and was even used when we wrote our first book as well.

7. A Color Story Desktop Actions/Presets: If you’ve ever used actions on photos, then you know what a crazy difference they can make when it comes to creating clean, bright, and powerful images. It makes your editing process so much faster and gives you a more consistent look—we love them!

8. Reflector Set: Having a good reflector set can be a lifesaver in certain lighting situations to help you manipulate the lighting tones and shadows. This is a 5-in-1 set that is collapsible and is a great deal considering it’s under $20.

9. Large Camera Bag: If you are going to have to lug around all your camera gear, you might as well have a cute bag to carry it in! This bag is a good size to carry your camera and 2-3 lenses as well and has several divided compartments for storage. And in case you’re curious—we launched a NEW A Beautiful Mess camera bag this year!

10. CamFi Wireless Camera Controller: This device is a newer find for us, but it allows you to use your phone as a wireless remote for your camera so you can see in real time through your phone what the shot looks like and adjust accordingly. You can also download the photos right to your phone when you are done for instant uploading. Genius? We think so!

11. Camera Tripod: Tripods come in handy in a million situations, so make sure that you have one that you love.

12. 50mm lenses: For a great, everyday lens, we suggest this 50mm f/1.4, but if you are wanting to get a starter 50mm at a lower price, it’s hard to beat this 50mm f/1.8 for the quality and value.

Emma swears by this EF 50mm f/1.2 lens for all her food photography needs.

13. 35mm lenses: The lens that we probably use the most would be this Canon 35mm f/2 (it gets used for the majority of the shots we take). If you can only get one lens, this would be the one we suggest as it’s really clean and has a more moderate price point.

We also love this Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L lens for taking crisp portraits (the quality is top notch).

14. Small Camera Bag: Sometimes you don’t need or want to take all your gear options with you, and it’s nice to have a smaller bag to keep your camera handy but also protected. Just make sure and measure your camera before buying your dream bag to ensure it will fit!

15. Canon Rebel: If you are just getting into the photography game, the Rebel is a great starter camera for also being on the lowest end of the price scale. Don’t let the price point fool you though, it’s still a quality camera for the novice or a blogger on a budget.

16. DSLR Basics eCourse: Does all this talk about camera gear make you want to get into the photography game (or at least up your current game a bit)? Well, don’t forget that we have a DSLR basics eCourse as well as a Photoshop for Bloggers course—you can even get them both for a discounted price!

It’s always fun to see what tools-of-the-trade other bloggers are into lately, so we hope this list has been informative for you! Maybe you’ve even added a few items to your Christmas wishlist, eh? Happy snapping!

27 Comments | leave a comment

9/27

Miso Soba Zoodles

Comfort Foods, Food, Healthy, Meal Ideas, Pasta, Weekday Approved

By Emma Chapman

Some nights I take time to make a really special meal. But, on an average weekend, I’m looking for something quick, easy, delicious, and heavy on the vegetables. 🙂 This recipe totally fits the bill. I especially love cooking with soba (buckwheat) noodles now and again as they aren’t something we make all the time, so it’s a fun variation. If you can’t have buckwheat or can’t find them at your store, you could substitute whole wheat linguine or spaghetti instead.

Miso Soba Zoodles, serves two as a light meal (see notes)

1 small package of soba noodles (3.5 oz)
1 zucchini
1 red or orange bell pepper
2 cloves of garlic
2 teaspoons sesame oil
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 heaping tablespoon miso paste (White, or sometimes labeled Shiro)
1 teaspoon honey
2 green onions
1 teaspoon sesame seeds

Use a spiralizer to create zoodles from your zucchini. If you don’t have a spiralizer, you could simply cut off the top and bottom and cut into thin matchsticks. Remove the inside seeds and veins from the bell pepper and slice into thin matchsticks.

Boil some water in a pot, enough so the noodles will have plenty of room to move around once they soften. Once boiling, add the soba noodles and cook for 7-8 minutes.

Meanwhile, cook the bell pepper in the sesame oil for 5-6 minutes. In a small bowl, stir together the soy sauce, miso, honey, and garlic. Set this aside until you need it.

Once the noodles are cooked, drain well. Add these to the pan with cooking bell pepper along with the zoodles. Pour the sauce over everything and cook, tossing well, for another 2 minutes. Then remove to two plates and top with the green onion and sesame seeds.

Notes:

-If you want to add some protein or make this a more substantial meal, you could add a soft boiled egg to the top before serving. Or if runny yolks freak you out, then maybe some baked tofu or cooked shrimp?

-The zucchini pictured here was a little on the small side (6.5 oz). I would recommend using a larger one, but this is what I had on hand the day I photographed this. So I figured why waste it. But if your zucchini is on the small side, you might consider using two.

-You can substitute brown sugar for the honey if you like.

Easy, delicious dinners—that’s what I love during the week! Try this one sometime soon. xo. Emma

Credits // Author and Photography: Emma Chapman. Photos edited with the NEW A Beautiful Mess actions.

17 Comments | leave a comment

9/26

New #CandyMinimal +pack for A Color Story!

A Color Story, ABM Apps

By A Beautiful Mess

edited w/ Bananas from Candy Minimal by @mattcrump

We are super, super excited to announce this new filter +pack and collaboration for A Color Story! A while back, we reached out to the creator of the #CandyMinimal photo movement and avid A Color Story user, Matt Crump, to gauge his interest on designing a filter pack focused on his beautiful photo style.

He was all for it!! 🙂 We got right to work, and after months of working with Matt to get it just right, we now have a new pack of 13 filters available in A Color Story called Candy Minimal.

edited w/ Dinner Mint from Candy Minimal by @mattcrump

For any of you that may be unfamiliar with #CandyMinimal, it’s a photo style that focuses on bright pastels and neons—photos that have at times completely transformed the colors into a candy-colored daydream. As the name would suggest, the compositions are often minimal, letting the bright colors tell the story.

edited w/ Jelly Bean from Candy Minimal by @williamgeorgeiii

So we set out with Matt to make a pack of filters that gives you quick access to his editing styles to make it more fun to participate in #CandyMinimal.

These filters are best on things like skies, beaches, palm trees, neon signs, buildings, fun colors or minimal compositions. But make no mistake: These filters are intense, and they strongly manipulate color! So they probably shouldn’t be your first choice for a quick self portrait or group photo.

edited w/ Dreamsicle from Candy Minimal by @mattcrump

Anyway, we hope you have as much fun with this pack on your photos as we do. Hop over to the app and purchase the pack now! Also, be sure to follow our friend @mattcrump as well as his @candyminimal account where he features his favorite photos from #CandyMinimal.

edited with Cinnamon Roll from Candy Minimal by @mattcrump

xoxo. Elsie + ACS Team

ps. Last week we reached a HUGE milestone, 1 million installs of A Color Story. We couldn’t have done any of this without YOU. Thank you for your support, feedback and for spreading the word about A Color Story!!!! We love you guys!

iOS users: If you aren’t seeing the +pack, make sure you’ve got version 1.1, and then just restart the app.
Android users: Ensure you’re updated to 1.1.2. Update may take a few hours to propagate in your store.

18 Comments | leave a comment

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