I never claim to be a style maven...

But I am a first-rate copycat!

When Erika Powell, author and owner of Urban Grace Interiors blog recently lamented her delightful fashion find that was was spotted {for less than the full retail price that she paid} at Stein-Mart and TJ Maxx, I naturally ran out that day to scour my local retailers for the exact same shirt. Stein-Mart only had large and extra larges marked at $34.99. So, after contemplating if a large would look "full" or just too big, I skipped over to TJ and found the shirt for $15 less and a multitude of small and mediums ... score and double score!

I will shamelessly sport my Erika Powell look-a-like $20 shirt with a pair of white jeans just like she wore {because it looked so cute and summery paired with the sheer cream top}. Go ahead and call me single white female, if you like.

With the advent of blogs and sites like Pinterest, it's made my stalkerish, style-stealing modus operandi much simpler.

I may not be able to always spot the cute find on the hanger {I probably wouldn't have even given that top a second glance in the store}, but I do know what I like and what looks good on others. There's got to be something said for that, right?

That's why redecorating my house usually takes a while to come together. I find an "inspiration" room or piece that motivates me, I paint, then I hang a picture or art, maybe a few weeks/months later I find and hang curtains and little by little I add a tchotchke or two until I'm satisfied enough or just plain over it!

So with that said, here is little update on our transformation, which is still a work-in-progress. We've done the bedroom shuffle. Jack is now in his own room and, with the exception of a few clothes that are still being stored in an armoire upstairs that will need to eventually find their way to a home in our closet, mom and dad have moved to the downstairs bedroom. It's a bit small cozy, but we are happy nonetheless.

The bath

Deciding on drapes, which led me to no decision...

My mom's next project will be sewing a duvet cover styled after the European shams on our headboard-less bed.

And finally our headboard and art are up. Thank God I have a Mom that has the git 'er done attitude that I have.

My parents made the headboard for our approximately 15 year old mattresses that have been sitting on a college-esque frame for the last 7 years. It's sad, but true for me to admit that we have never had a bed or even headboard for that matter. When we moved our mattresses from the upstairs bedroom, there was a little "Soul Glo" on our wall where our pillows met the wall. Remember the scene in Coming to America where the Soul Glo family got up off the couch and left behind their greasy hair residue? Well imagine that on your wall.

Okay, so maybe it wasn't that bad and no, neither of us use Soul Glo, but still ick, right? I immediately painted the wall behind Jack's bed to hide the evidence.

Said mattresses were a hand-me-down from my {very meticulously clean} aunt and uncle and came well broken in. We were happy at the time though, because it was a king and much larger than our previous queen bed, which allowed us newlyweds to sleep comfortably distanced from one another. So we gratefully accepted the bed, two sagging indentions and all. Finally, after 7 years and recent back problems by both Ben and I, I finally convinced the Teeth Man {thanks Nancy} that we really should probably try growing up a little and purchase our very own new mattresses to go with our new grown-up headboard. He relinquished in a moment of weakness from back pain and we purchased our first bed this past weekend. It arrives on Saturday and it better damn well be worth it's {memory foam and gel} weight.

Next up ... a certain little June baby will be the recipient of a Batman inspired bedroom.