hey mckay

Recycle

2010-07-16T16:15:00.002-04:00

And if you'd like to recycle in our bin, we like to keep the cans in order.

Photos & July 3rd

2010-07-13T18:28:00.002-04:00

Here are a few pictures from life recently. I bought a new lens, and I've really enjoyed using it! Take a look.

The crape myrtles in our front "yard" are blooming beautifully.

And it's raining petals.

Kyle & I spent July 3rd in Fuquay-Varina with his high school/college friend Christian Duke and his girlfriend. Here are some photos I got of the fireworks show.

I think this is the first time I've tried to photograph fireworks with my SLR camera. They are a little tricky to focus on since you don't know where they will pop next and they come and go so quickly.

Above left, you can see where the fireworks shot off from. Kyle and I referred to it as hell since it looked like a boiling red fire pit.

Boom!

That's all for now. :)

You think you know, but you have no idea

2010-06-22T21:22:00.003-04:00

Kyle is the marketing manager at the Bull's Head Bookshop at UNC. What does that mean, you ask?

(He also designed the poster.)

Cooking Inspiration & Banana Pudding

2010-05-20T22:19:00.007-04:00

A few weeks ago I won a contest on Brittany's blog! [Brittany is one of my lovely co-workers. You can't miss her platinum blond hair, frenchy style, or golden personality.] I won the lovely 'Extra Ingredient Apron' from Anthropologie, and I'm hoping it will inspire more time in the kitchen!

And, if you're looking for something delicious to make, you should try Nilla Wafer's Banana Pudding recipe! Everything is made from scratch, and it's delicious! I think I've made banana pudding four times over the past month - it's that good!

Original Nilla Wafer Banana Pudding Recipe (+ my suggestions)

Prep Time: ~~30 min~~. 45 min.

Bake Time: 20 min.

Ingredients:

3/4 cup of sugar, divided

1/3 cup of flour

Dash of salt

3 eggs, separated

2 cups milk

1/2 tsp. vanilla

45 60+ Nilla wafers, divided (my favorite part!)

5 4 medium ripe bananas, sliced (little to no green)

Directions:

~~PREHEAT oven to 350°F~~. Might as well wait unless you want to waste energy. Start by boiling water and cutting up the bananas (I prefer them cut very thinly). Mix 1/2 cup of the sugar, flour and salt in top of double boiler. Or pretend you have one like I do. Blend in 3 egg yolks and milk. Cook, uncovered, over boiling water 12 minutes or until thickened, stirring constantly. Hello wrist cramps. Remove from heat; stir in vanilla. Now you can preheat the oven to 350°F.

RESERVE (at least) 12 wafers for garnish. Spread small amount of custard on bottom of 1-1/2 quart baking dish; cover with layers of 1/3 each of the remaining wafers and sliced bananas. Pour about 1/3 of the remaining custard over bananas. Continue to layer wafers, bananas, and custard to make a total of three layers of each, ending with the custard.

BEAT egg whites on high with electric mixer until soft peaks form. Gradually add remaining 1/4 cup sugar, beating until stiff peaks form. Spoon over custard; spread evenly to cover entire surface of custard, sealing well to edge.

BAKE 15 to 20 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool slightly. Top with reserved wafers just before serving. Try it while it’s still warm – it’s amazing!

Coin-Operated Viewfinders

2010-05-16T18:08:00.007-04:00

I took these photos last summer during our trip to Clearwater, FL of the viewfinder on the pier. Clearwater is where Kyle and I met, and we sometimes walked out on the pier to talk as we got to know one another. There's something about the warm sunset lighting that grazes across the surfaces that I love!

I recently framed and hung them in our powder room for affordable art. The viewfinder looks like a face, with a gentle grin.

I found these amusing viewfinder photos online. See what I mean?

I wouldn't mind taking more photos of these as we travel. I think they would be very interesting as a collection!

Feels like I'm Back in School

2010-05-15T17:45:00.005-04:00

Meet my new best friend. I've been spending a lot of time with this book, and that's not going to change any time soon. I'm sitting for the NCIDQ exam October 1-2 of this year. A two day exam isn't my idea of fun, but it will be worth it in the end. The NCIDQ is the professional exam for interior designers, and it's required in 26 states (although not currently required to practice in North Carolina). It focuses on the aspects of interior design that affect public health, life safety, and welfare - no creativity required. The test itself includes one day of multiple choice followed by a day of drafting. Whew! Needless to say, I can't wait to have it behind me!

Thanks for Your Prayers!

2010-05-15T16:28:00.009-04:00

Thanks so much for your prayers and encouragement. Kyle had surgery earlier this week to remove the skin cancer on his chest, and everything went really well! It was caught very early and stayed superficial. As far as we can tell, his scar will probably just be round.

But trust me on the sunscreen...

2010-05-06T18:56:00.003-04:00

We got some news earlier in the week. In Kyle's own words, he said "I got the skin cancer." He called me just after I'd gotten to work with the results of his biopsy - basal cell carcinoma. I immediately started to tear up and didn't stop for a little while. I cried several times throughout that day. Not because he's going to die (at least not from that), but because we're twenty five, because the word cancer is scary, and because there's nothing I can do to change it. I'm the one with blond hair, blue eyes, and visited the tanning bed a few times in high school - not Kyle. It took me by surprise and reminded me that life can't be taken for granted. God doesn't promise us health or wealth. We cannot know the number of days that we have; we can only worship Him with them.

I'm reminded of the song that was popular back when we were in high school, Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen).

I took this picture on our honeymoon, a little over a year and a half ago. The little red spot you see on his chest has grown since this was taken, and it will be completely removed next Wednesday. We'd appreciate your prayers - that they would get it all and that it wouldn't return. Kyle's also hoping that the scar from the surgery "looks really cool and turns out to be in the shape of something, like a chicken drumstick or an Abraham Lincoln silhouette."

80's Kickball Tournament

2010-05-02T20:32:00.004-04:00

A few weeks ago, our Community Group participated in Sports That Serve's first annual kickball tournament at Oakwood Park. Rob Shields, a friend of Kyle's from UNC, started Sports that Serve a few years ago after working at an orphanage started by Mother Teresa in Ethiopia. He began the non-profit to impact the youth in America by running sports camps that raise money for orphans in Ethopia.

Here's Kyle giving our team, Cobra Kai, a pep talk. His headband makes it look like he as a bowl cut!

Which clearly jazzed everyone up!

Despite our efforts, we came in last place - but we had a lot of fun!

Justin and Ashleigh sit in the shade as they watch the championship game.

Go Cobra Kai! Sweep the leg!

Local Find: Furbish Furniture

2010-05-01T10:55:00.006-04:00

Yesterday I was on my way home from the Junior League of Raleigh's 2010 Showcase of Kitchens Tour when I spotted this lovely shop on Glenwood Avenue: Furbish Studio. Jamie Meares opened the space about 5 months ago, looking for a fresh change of pace from the corporate world.

She refinishes and recovers furniture, making it adorably cute. The pieces have lots of personality with a dash of funk. Just what Raleigh needs if you ask me. :)

Here are some photos from the store, borrowed from the Furbish Studio blog I Suwanee. Clever quotes are placed throughout the space, like the one above.

I love this chevron settee! She said that she started with a collection of furniture she had stored in her basement, and she shops estate sales for new pieces.

Her dog Rowdy (yes, like the dog from Scrubs) is so cute! I love all the colorful pieces in the space. It's a wonderful mix of old and new. Be sure to check it out if you're around Glenwood South! Or read her interview with Decor8 here.

Photography = My Latest Hobby

2010-04-21T19:33:00.003-04:00

For Christmas, I told Kyle I wanted to take a photography class. With work and everything else, it seemed an online class would be the most convenient. I got a digital SLR camera for graduation from my parents back in 2007, but I left it on the "Auto" setting most of the time. I didn't feel like I was getting the most out of the camera I had. Sharon Clark came along and changed that! I took one of her workshops and really enjoyed it! Here are some of the photos I took during the class. {She's offering the next online workshop in May if you're interested!}

I learned how to achieve bokeh (or wonderfully blurry backgrounds that make the subject really pop).

I love the creative ring shots that wedding photographers take, so I decided to try one of my own with a play on Kyle's nickname for me, Egg.

Kyle was excited for me to take the class but not as excited to serve as the subject matter. ;)

I can now shoot in fully manual, and I know how to have control over the camera to get the look that I want.

Now I just need a new camera and a new lens or two! Isn't that the way technology works these days? :) But I'm trying to be patient, at least until next Christmas.

Then Moses said to the Israelites, "See, the LORD has chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and he has filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts - to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, to cut and set stones, to work in wood and to engage in all kinds of artistic craftsmanship. And he has given both him and Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, the ability to teach others. He has filled them with skill to do all kinds of work as craftsmen, designers, embroiderers in blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen, and weavers—all of them master craftsmen and designers.
Exodus 35:30-35

God has given me the desire for all kinds of crafts. Growing up, I enjoyed drawing, painting, cross-stitching, and making collages. When we first got a computer, I spent a lot of time in Paint creating and printing designs. I had a Barbie house, which I loved, but I spent more time rearranging the furniture and making pillows and blankets for it than anything else. In college, I had the opportunity to take classes in so many things, and I don't think I've met a creative subject that I don't like. There is certainly a desire within me to create, and I can't imagine living in a time without the technology that we have today!

(Belated Post) Advent at Vintage 21

2010-04-14T21:18:00.008-04:00

I love that our church has a design team, that our God is a creative god, and that I have the opportunity to serve with the gifts He's given me! For the Advent season, the design team worked to incorporate our version of Christmas decorations, to tie in with the sermon series and help visitors feel welcome. A few pictures I snapped in the sanctuary are shown below.

This idea started with Christmas stories that often begin with ornate drop caps. (For inspiring daily drop caps, click here.) As we worked through the concept, we settled on using the text of the scripture to create the words peace, joy, hope, and love.

We wanted the design to be interactive and to encourage others to remember the life of Christ by loving others, just as He did. The "Christmas tree" served as a drop off for cans of food, to be donated to those in need. Words that speak of the spirit of the season emanate from the communion stations.

The lobby functions as an art gallery each month; photographers in the church took pictures to illustrate the words used in the series.

Acrylic letters surround our painting of the Raleigh skyline.

What a beautiful season it was!

Friends Since Birth

2010-04-12T08:00:00.003-04:00

My dear friend Isabel got married about a month ago in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. I was so disappointed that I couldn't be there - we were born only a day apart, and we've known each other our whole lives. (I spent the whole weekend taking a prep class in Charlotte for the NCIDQ - not nearly as fun!) Here we are about three years ago, playing with the wedding ring favors at her sister's wedding.

And here are a few pictures from her wedding day by Ashley Merritt Photography:

Beautiful!

The church has striking architecture!

Such a cute couple! And isn't her ankle-length wedding dress gorgeous?! I finally got to meet her husband Wyatt this weekend at their reception in Shelby at the Owl's Eye Vineyard.

Congratulations Mr. & Mrs. Bradford! It was so good to see you both!

And We're Back

2010-04-11T15:10:00.005-04:00

After a blog hibernation this winter, I'm back on the bandwagon (thanks to a little encouragement from Lisa this weekend). We have been busy over the last few months with weddings, birthdays, Christmas, a cruise, work, classes, church, community group, and more! I'll try to go back and blog about some of it over the coming weeks.

To start things off, we were in Greensboro yesterday celebrating with Ryan and Lyndsay Semchenko! Their wedding was absolutely beautiful and such a testimony to the work that God is doing in their lives!

The reception was held at the LEED certified Proximity Hotel, which I loved!

Asian details reflect their mission work and where they started dating. The Chinese writing on their delicious cake says "Love." They will return to Asia later this year, but we're excited that they'll be in Cary as they raise support before they leave.

And here's Daniel, who told me that he is keenly aware when someone is trying to take a candid picture of him - and he makes a face like this. I took it as a challenge. I got a few candid shots when he wasn't looking, but I had to be so quick that they turned out blurry.

I also headed to Shelby for Isabel's wedding reception - I'll post some pictures from that soon. And now that we're back - is there anything you'd like to see me blog about?

Design Lines celebrates 30 years!

2009-10-24T21:53:00.003-04:00

A few weeks ago we celebrated a big event at Design Lines - 30 years in business! My boss Judy Pickett started our firm in a yellow house on Glenwood Avenue in 1979 with $500 in her pocket.

Not long after that, Laurie and Molly joined the firm, and Design Lines moved into a house on Peace Street. An old ad is shown above, featuring an old logo.

We celebrated at Judy's house with current and past clients, vendors, and of course the Design Lines staff! Cydney English at The English Garden provided the flowers - and they were beautiful as always!

Brittany's beautiful handwriting tagged each food item on the menu. The event was catered by Lip Service, and everything was delicious! Kyle and I had a great time. I especially enjoyed introducing him to clients and vendors that I work with everyday, but he'd never met before.

Client's really enjoyed getting to see Judy's elegant home. Food was scattered in different rooms, with a tent in the front for additional gathering space. I snapped these photos before the guests arrived.

The powder room and entry hall are shown above.

I love this shot of the master bedroom - the soft light coming in the windows made the whole room glow!

The dining room is shown above left, with the dining chairs pulled away to allow room for guests. And on the right, another shot of the master bedroom. Judy has an amazing collection of original art!

The 84-85-86 crew! (In reverse order, based upon the year we were born.)

And finally, the whole Design Lines team at the end of the night: Laurie (business admin), me, Ashley (designer), Judy (owner and designer), Molly (designer), Hilaire (communications), and Brittany (designer). The event was a huge success with around 200 guests! Design Lines has come a long way in thirty years!

Decorating on a Budget

2009-10-21T16:48:00.009-04:00

A friend of mine from college, Katie Carruth, told me a few months ago that she was starting her own interior decorating business, Charming Innovations. I was excited to hear about her shared passion for helping others with their homes, and I'm thrilled that she is pursuing what she loves! This past week, I was featured as a guest blogger on her site talking about decorating on a budget, and I thought I would share it with you!

Set a budget

This is probably the least fun part, but the most important! To prevent overspending while decorating, you need to understand what you can spend on each item. Begin by making a list of the items you need (sofa, pair of chairs, etc). Then, estimate how much you can spend on each and add the amounts together for your overall budget. This total will dictate what items you can afford to buy new, and what may need to be reused or bought secondhand. If the total you'd like to spend is more than what you have on hand, you should plan to make purchases over time, saving for the things you want.

Holly Becker of Decor8 spent 1,400 euros or about $1,650 on her living room in Germany.

Know your options

As you begin to think of what you need for your room, realize that your material choices can directly affect your budget. For example, paint is less expensive than wallpaper, but if you really want the look of wallpaper, perhaps a stencil or wall decals could give a similar look. When shopping for upholstery pieces, know that leather is going to be the most expensive. Pre-made window treatments are less expensive than custom draperies, but you can get a similar effect by adding trim. As Callie mentioned, sisal rugs are usually more affordable than wool rugs. Laminate wood is less expensive than hardwood. Sometimes you can get the look for less!

This is one of my favorite before and afters from Design*Sponge! Look at what a difference a little paint and fabric can make!

Do it yourself

You can easily save money in your home by tackling some projects yourself! You can paint a room in a day for very little money. Painting is probably the cheapest and quickest way to transform a room! Hanging wallpaper is also a skill that can be learned fairly easily. Consider learning more about how to paint furniture, just like Katie has done. You may be able to transform furniture pieces that you are considering tossing! If you know how to sew or have an interest in learning, you can make pillow covers, tablecloths or runners, curtains, and more. That is a perfect way to give your room a custom look without paying more for it! When shopping for new furniture, look for pieces that you assemble yourself. They tend to be less expensive, but can have the quality of already-assembled pieces. You can also create your own artwork! Be inspired by abstract artists or take photos of some of your favorite places and have them enlarged! In your kid's rooms, photocopy illustrations from their favorite books for art they'll love! If it is a custom size but needs to be framed, buy a standard size frame and have the mat cut to size. Reusing anything you already have will certainly save you money - look for ways to transform it!

Christie Kauffman at Just Beachy spent under $2000 on this room. She bargain hunts and uses slipcovers because she loves to change up the look.

Shop smart

If you are on an Ikea budget, you shouldn't walk into Pottery Barn to find your main pieces. Be smart about where you allow yourself to shop so that you aren't tempted to overspend. You can find quality furniture and accessories at secondhand sources like Craigslist, Ebay, yard sales, consignment stores, flea markets. Check outlet stores or shop end of season sales. For your main pieces, don't buy anything too trendy that you are likely to tire of. Instead, use inexpensive accessories to add interest.

These two rooms were designed by Susan Tollefsen on a $5000 budget for the Nation's Next Top Model Home competition - I love her design!

Spend wisely

For the most part, the saying is true - you get what you pay for. I'd like to make the point that getting the best price now may not be the wisest purchase. For example, bargain furniture stores sell sofas for $500 or so. A $500 sofa is made differently than a $1500 sofa. What is the difference, you ask? While it varies, it may mean that the wooden joints haven't been reinforced, the cushions are made of foam, and that the upholstery is synthetic. This means that the piece isn't as structurally sound and may crack over time. Foam cushions aren't as comfortable as feather cushions, and they aren't as likely to bounce back with use. Synthetic upholstery can be resilient, but I can promise you that the fabric on a $500 sofa was not expensive. Micro-fiber fabric, which is commonly used, is composed of little bits of fiber that are glued together to form the suede-like fabric. Overtime the glue will break down and the fibers will flake off. Consider that a $500 sofa may only last three years, while a $1500 sofa may last twenty-years, saving you a good bit of money in the long run. (The amounts mentioned are general, and are not direct indicators of the quality of the furniture.) I can hear you thinking: It makes sense that a $1500 sofa would be better quality, but I just can't afford that right now. Instead of buying new, consider buying used, but look for things made by reputable furniture companies.

Find out as much as you can about how the furniture is made. I've seen pieces of painted, solid wood furniture that weren't primed first, and over time the wood began to show through! As for me, I spent the most on my sectional because that was the place that I could feel the biggest difference in quality based on the comfort. On the other hand, I knew I didn't want to spend much on a coffee table because I wanted to be able to put my feet up on it. Decide what is most important for you.

I hope these tips help you stick to a budget while decorating your home! If they left you feeling overwhelmed about where to start or unsure of what items to keep and what to toss, consider hiring a professional to help you develop a design plan. With experience working within budgets, we can help you know where to look and how to cut costs. Happy decorating!

My Chair & My Inspiration

2009-10-18T20:32:00.001-04:00

My chair is back from being reupholstered! While I've had it a few weeks, I just hadn't found the time to blog about it until now.

Before and after. It love it! It is so comfortable and so cute now! I bought the chair for $100 on Craigslist. Since it was made by Hickory Chair (which is a company we carry at work), I knew that it would be a well-made piece that will last forever. I refinished the legs myself and then had it reupholstered in an ikat fabric. Last weekend I made the brown lumbar pillow for it. I was excited to get my sewing machine out since it had been a while, and now I'm excited to do more projects!

The ikat fabric I chose reminds me so much of the fabric used on the pieces above. That fabric is by Madelin Weinrib and is sold for around $500 per yard! If you aren't familiar with ikat, you should check out this post on ikat at Design*Sponge. True ikat is made by painting the threads before weaving the fabric - which creates the irregular shapes that characterize the patterns. I'm planning to make accent pillows out of the floral fabric to the above right.

That fabric was designed by Celerie Kemble (above) - one of my favorite interior designers. I love her style! And, as you can see in the photo above and the article below, she used the Madelin Weinrib ikat in her nursery! (I'm a green addict too.)

And the winner is...

2009-09-11T19:18:00.004-04:00

About a month ago, I got an email with an ad for a contest. To enter, you simply had to follow them on Twitter. I thought that sounded pretty simple, so I entered - and I won!

I won two original acrylic paintings by Jamie Packard from New Era Portfolio, usually sold for $2,000! I'm not sure what I'm going to do with them yet. (I think they would work best in a kid's room, but we don't have any plans for that right now.)

Congrats Mr. & Mrs. Lagstrom!

2009-09-10T21:12:00.002-04:00

Yes, it has been awhile since I last blogged - what can I say, we've been busy! This past weekend was filled with fun celebrations for Allison and Scott's big day!

Their fiesta-themed rehearsal after party featured a mariachi band and mustaches for everyone!

Their elegant wedding was held at Prestonwood Country Club in Cary! Taylor shared a wonderful message relating Christ's love for the church to the love of a groom and his bride.

Beautiful details from the wedding - a bridesmaid's bouquet, the most delicious cake, and tall centerpieces!

As they left, bubbles filled the air! Seriously - there were tons of them! Congrats Lagstroms!

We all need a little help from our friends

2009-08-18T07:00:00.000-04:00

Since our Community Group started meeting back in February, we've found out that we like each other - a lot! The people you surround yourself with are so important, certainly they influence us, and it's amazing to have others there when you truly need them. Kyle and I have enjoyed getting to know our group - and watching it grow. But last week we had to say goodbye to a few. Hayley left us for Wilmington for her first year of college, and Phil moved up to DC for a new job in animation. (The extra sad thing about Phil leaving is that it means Katy, his fiance, will be leaving soon as well.)

Kyle made banners to show our love, and we enjoyed a night of great food and great conversation.

Phil and Hayley - You are missed!! (FYI, that's not Hayley rolling up the banner, that's her sister Lara. Hayley is in the paint splattered shirt beside Lara in the top photo). Lara was careful to save Hayley's banner for dorm room decoration.

Design Lines' new website!

2009-08-17T18:02:00.003-04:00

We've been working hard over the past few months to revamp our website at work - and it's finally finished! The blog is the next thing on the list for a makeover. Check it out here!

Our Anniversary

2009-08-04T19:26:00.002-04:00

To celebrate our first anniversary, Kyle planned a trip to Charlotte, back to the hotel where we stayed on our wedding night. We relaxed, laid out by the pool, went shopping, and out to eat. It was great to get away for the weekend!

Upon arriving at the hotel, we were greeted with a surprise - my mom went to the hotel earlier that day to drop off the top layer of our wedding cake and treated us to a bottle of champagne and a bowl of fresh fruit. She is always so thoughtful!

We went downtown to eat at Flemming's on Saturday and enjoyed a four-course meal! It was delicious! I don't think I've ever been so full in my life. I recommend the banana crème brûlée!

And on our actual anniversary, we traveled to High Point for Bruce & Sarah's wedding! Congratulations to the Carroll's!

Five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes

2009-08-02T08:00:00.000-04:00

One year ago - 8/02/2008

Happy Anniversary Babe! I love you!

Recently...

2009-07-29T22:14:00.003-04:00

The past few weeks have been busy with thing like the premier of the latest Harry Potter movie, a pool party, praise and worship nights, a blood drive, a bachelor party, and studying the book of Mark with our Community Group.

While waiting in line for Harry Potter, Kyle ate the largest rice krispy treat I've ever seen! On the right is our latest project. We bought a chair on Craigslist with the idea that it would be recovered. I pulled some affordable fabric options, and we decided on the red ikat fabric at the top right - except in green. I can't wait to see the result, and I'll be sure to post pictures when it's finished! It is quite funny to me though - several of our friends are against us recovering it. The chair isn't in bad shape at all, but it's just not quite my style. :) I knew it would be a great piece because it is by Hickory Chair, a company I use a lot at work. I've been to their manufacturing facilities, and I know this chair will last as long as we would like to keep it!

It's really hard to believe that our one year anniversary is coming up this weekend! We are heading to Charlotte to stay at the Ballantyne Hotel, where we stayed on our wedding night. Looking back to a year ago, I was miserable - I had a tear in my esophagus in the week before the wedding! It was very painful, but Kyle was great - he helped me pack up all of my stuff and moved it to our apartment! I'm so thankful for an amazing husband, and I look forward to many more years to come!

And - we got a universal remote! Now there is only one remote to lose!

The 4th of July

2009-07-15T21:07:00.002-04:00

Kyle and I took a "staycation" over the 4th. Instead of going away for the weekend, we enjoyed spending time at home.

The Joel Lane House is literally across the street from where we live. They were having an open house on the 4th, so we took the opportunity to check it out and learn a little bit about the history of our city and state. Joel Lane was instrumental in making Raleigh the capital city. It's crazy to think that this house was around before anything else; now it is crowded by businesses and town homes.

It wouldn't be the 4th without hamburgers and hotdogs! We ventured just a bit further to get some food from Chargrill. I like the new designs that Coke has out for the summer!

Also on Saturday, the 13th

2009-07-09T21:38:00.006-04:00

My friend Sean (who I've known since middle school) got married about a month ago to his lovely bride Jamie! They met the same summer that Kyle and I did - and in a similar way - through a Summer Beach Project with Campus Outreach. I remember talking to Sean that summer, telling him about getting to know Kyle and hearing about the beginning of his relationship with Jamie. I hated that we were unable to go to their wedding since it was a destination wedding in the Bahamas, but we saw the newly-weds last weekend at their reception in Shelby. They used the same wedding photographer that we did - I can't wait to see more shots from their big day!

Haha... I like this picture because it is such a Sean face, and Jamie looks beautiful! What a gorgeous setting!

Kyle and I with Mr. and Mrs. Collins at their tropical-themed reception. Kyle had fun with the decor. Congratulations Sean & Jamie!!

Lake Trip Awesomeness

2009-07-01T19:31:00.003-04:00

This past weekend, we headed to Lake Norman to stay at my grandparent's house and spend the weekend with members of our Community Group. The weather was beautiful, and we had a great time growing deeper in community! We started off Saturday morning with a time of prayer and praise. I think you can see from the pictures what we did during the rest of the trip:

Jumbo tried (unsuccessfully) to catch the ball in his mouth. Katie enjoys a very delicious slice of watermelon.

Kyle jumped off the double-decker dock... several times.

The whole group! What a fun weekend! (You may recognize some of the crowd from the latest Harry Potter poster featured below.)

Movie Night

2009-06-30T19:18:00.003-04:00

Kyle created this for our first movie night, taking place in a few weeks after our usual Monday Community Group gathering. Any guesses to what we are watching? ;)

Kyle's New Toys

2009-06-29T23:08:00.000-04:00

Now let's see if I know what all of these remotes are for: the tv, blu-ray player, ipod dock, speakers, ceiling fan, dvr box, receiver, and the dvd player. Whew! (And that doesn't even include our Wiimotes!) Half of these arrived in the last week, and Kyle and I just finished watching our second movie in blu-ray (and the first movie with the new speakers - the new 007 movie was intense!) Kyle did an amazing job researching what he wanted - and finding great deals on all of it!

Consider this your invitation to come over for a movie! We certainly don't have all this to keep it to ourselves - it is our hope that our home would facilitate fun times with good friends.

Recent projects at work!

2009-06-24T21:39:00.002-04:00

After five years of college and three internships, I absolutely love working on real projects and getting to see my designs come to life! Here are some recent shots I took on the job.

Not your typical client meeting: Brittany meets with a client to select paint colors on the side walk outside of our office. And to the left, wallpaper I selected for a laundry room - I love how it looks installed!

An all-cream master bathroom with an onyx tile floor. On the right, I love the corner chairs that flank the entrance to this room, the paint color, and the cornices!

On the left, a lovely chair from Hickory Chair, one of my favorite companies based out of Hickory, NC. The fireplace on the right was one of the first things I designed when I was an intern, and I got to see the result a few weeks ago! (The screened doors to the left allow remote signals to pass through, without all the electronics being seen.)

Saturday, the 13th

2009-06-17T22:56:00.006-04:00

This past Saturday, our good friends Ashleigh and Justin tied the knot after dating for five years. We traveled to the other side of the state for their big day, and it was such a fun wedding! So fun that I didn't take very many pictures, so some of these I stole from Facebook.

Wedding colors - marigold and navy.

To the left is Rachel, myself, and Sara. We were all in Community Group together, along with Ashleigh. This was actually Rachel's last day in North Carolina - she went straight from the wedding, with her car packed, to Orlando. We'll miss you!

Ashleigh's beautiful bridal portraits by Blend Photography.

Dancing! I loved the bridesmaid dresses (from J. Crew), modeled by Holly. At one point, the groomsmen surrounded Ashleigh on the dance floor - she had fun with it!

One fun fact: Ashleigh's maiden name is Bishop, as is mine! And her sister's name is Lauren. It was the first time I'd ever met another Lauren Bishop!

Ashleigh and Justin: Congratulations! What a beautiful day to get married! As Taylor said, 50% of marriages end in divorce today, but not this one! And not because of anything that you do, but because of what God has done for you. We love you both!

Need a change? Paint!

2009-06-15T09:19:00.008-04:00

Paint is the least expensive way to make a big impact in your space. In a matter of hours, you can achieve dramatic results, but choosing the right color may be the hardest part. This summer, Design Lines is hosting a summer color event to help you find the perfect color for your space.

Graphics by Brittany, Hilaire, and yours truly.

Living in Community

2009-06-05T17:04:00.008-04:00

Kyle and I have been going to Vintage 21 Church for over two and a half years now. We got involved in a Community Group not too long after that, and then after we got married we were asked to consider leading a group. We certainly didn't feel ready - for one thing, we'd just bought our first place and had hardly any furniture! Where would everyone sit? How were we going to eat together each week?

We were still figuring things out as a couple, and we knew there were many areas in our lives that we wanted to improve. But we felt God calling us to trust him, and since February, we've seen him bring our group together to grow closer to him. We've had an incredible crowd - people of different ages and in different stages of life, with different backgrounds and interests. But we share one thing in common: we enjoy getting together every week! We look at the Bible, ask questions when we have doubts, pray for and encourage each other constantly, and look for ways we can love others just as Christ loves us.

It has been such a blessing in our lives! Our group gets together outside of our Monday night meetings - we go out together, we have a praise and worship night once a month, we have a women's prayer night, and our group volunteers at the church in many different areas - everything from the kid's ministry to the design team to cleaning the building, and we have a lot of fun when we're around each other! I pray that God would continue to spiritually grow our group, and I look forward to seeing what He does.

Want to join us? We meet on Mondays at 7pm.

Our First Place

2009-05-31T14:06:00.000-04:00

In the months we've lived in our home, we've worked to make it our own. We've tackled a variety of projects with plans for more. Most recently we built a fence with our neighbors and renovated our powder room.

The new vanity and mirror are from Lowe's, and the faucet is from Home Depot. For under $200, the vanity included the granite top and under mount sink.

The paint color was chosen from the cover of a book that we got recently. (It is more accurately represented in the above photo on the left.)

Before & After: We kept the light fixture, but the medicine cabinet mirror was very small. The oval mirror is much better in size and proportion to the vanity. The pedestal sink was alright, but it is nice to have storage in there now, and the color is much better!

Our living room: The sectional just arrived a few weeks ago, and now we are working on finding side tables, a coffee table, a rug, lamps, pillows, window treatments, and artwork. The television was one of the first things we purchased - even before we had anything to put it on! Kyle did a great job researching which one he wanted. The console is from Crate & Barrel, and the lamp and side table I had in college.

We purchased our dining table because of the top that pulls out to go from seating 6 to seating 10. In February, Kyle and I started leading a community group through our church. Each week we have around 15 people that meet and eat at our house. We needed a way to maximize our space and the dining table has been great! We also set up a card table in the living room. The chairs stack to the side when we don't need them.

Our kitchen: We love the look of the granite countertops and the stainless steel appliances. The pantry (not shown) provides additional storage. I would like to paint the cabinets, add hardware and molding, tile the back splash, and change the paint color.

Our bedroom: The bedding was a great compromise between what we each wanted - I like pattern while Kyle preferred solid bedding. We ordered the upholstered bed frame and then I had an upholsterer make the headboard to match. On the accent pillow, I laid a printed fabric from Romo that I'm considering using. I want to use accessories to bring color into the room.

We got a great deal on our nightstands from Whitley Galleries because they were a discontinued style. Next, we need lamps, art work, and curtains. Across from the bed we have a desk, media, and storage system, but it is pretty empty right now.

This is our master bathroom as it looked the day we moved in. Not much has changed. It was painted the same red color as the other bathroom. We're hoping to repaint, change the vanity or at least the counter top, get a new mirror, and tile the floor. We're also planning to change out all of the brass hardware found on the doors.

Shortly after moving in, we added a closet organization system in our 8' x 8' closet. The three shelves that were in there before hardly took advantage of the space. On the left wall, the poles were hung too close together and you couldn't actually hang clothes from it. Now we both have plenty of space and lots of shelves for other things. We bought some of the accessory pieces, like a tie rack and shelves for shoes, and now we have shelving on three walls instead of just two.

Almost any interior designer would tell you, it's a lot harder to do your own home than it is to work on others. I haven't rushed to make it look finished, but instead we've taken our time finding pieces that we know we'll enjoy for a while. We chose a few pieces to invest in - mainly our mattress and our sectional, which we will have for a long time.

How have you made your space a home? What pieces were most important to you?

Happy Birthday Jenna!

2009-05-30T08:00:00.001-04:00

I hope you have a wonderful 24th birthday! Remember two years ago when I gave you the world's largest gummy bear? That's a pretty hard gift to top. Perhaps a blog post will suffice? Love you!

Vacation in Clearwater: Part III

2009-05-29T21:48:00.000-04:00

After going to north shore to catch up with some of the staff and students of CBSP '09, we had to stop at McKay Park for a picture! It was great to see some of the staff again and meet the students as they went to the beach for their first outreach.

The weather was beautiful and the beach was crowded on Memorial Day.

The picture of Gus (the egret) was taken with my dSLR camera. The one on
the right was taken with my point and shoot at sunset. Oh, the difference.

A beautiful sunset over Sand Key Park!

Funny moments: The phrases churches put on their signs are sometimes
cheesy, but this one cracked me up! (The chuch was completely covered
in tarps by Terminix.) And to the right, cranes.

We had a great time in Clearwater! It was so relaxing and such a great break. We enjoyed visiting some of our favorite places (we ate at the Columbia twice) and finding new ones. It was great to see the students that are down there to grow and serve the Lord, and to reflect on how much we have grown and changed since we were in their shoes.

Vacation in Clearwater: Part II

2009-05-28T20:43:00.005-04:00

It was a bit strange to be back at the Villa, mostly because so many things have changed. The new Hyatt that is nearing completion blocks the view of the beach and dwarfs the Golden Villa. Aside from the construction, things are nicer than they were four years ago. The new bridge is finished, downtown Clearwater got a face lift, and the walk along the beach is nicely landscaped.

Kyle in our rental car, a convertible bug.

The Golden Villa is now golden! Ken and Linda painted the place last fall. (It used to be a light pink, which you can see in the photo on the left below.)

Kyle and I four years ago (left). Out to eat overlooking the water (right).

Part III tomorrow.

Vacation in Clearwater: Part I

2009-05-27T22:38:00.004-04:00

We had a great time in Florida! But for the first few days, this was all we saw:

It was such a relaxing trip! Since it was so gross outside (I haven't seen it rain that much at the Villa since the hurricane came through!), we spent most of our time inside. We played Settlers of Catan quite a few times. Kyle pretty much dominated - I only once out of some seven games. For reading, we brought Sacred Marriage, which I would recommend to anyone, and Kyle took a few of the Harry Potter books. I also spent some time reading my camera manual trying to brush up on my photography skills.

Slowly but surely, the rain slowed and the sun peaked out - just about the time we were sick of staying indoors. More pictures soon to come!

Clearwater Bound

2009-05-20T07:00:00.001-04:00

We're on vacation! See you next week.

Home Sweet Home

2009-05-18T00:30:00.002-04:00

About a year ago, Kyle and I started talking about buying our first place. We were initially looking in the areas between Raleigh and Chapel Hill for something that would be convenient for both of us. Most of what we saw were 3 bedroom, 2 bath homes, but the idea of living in a neighborhood with mostly families didn't seem to fit quite yet. After we found out that Kyle could ride the bus from Raleigh to Chapel Hill to work, we started looking for something that would be convenient to a bus stop, to our church, and to my work. Even though we loved the first place we visited, our Realtor Matt Peedin was great at showing us other options and walking us through the process. We did end up buying the first place we looked at - a one bedroom, 1.5 bath condo downtown!

One of the new signs just down the road

I snapped these shots on the Boylan Bridge as we took a walk one night

Our place! Well, sort of - this shot was taken back in 1996 before the lumber company was turned into condos in 2002

Here is the building today

Our first place!

We've loved living here. It's been just enough space for the two of us, and we love the location. I love seeing the skyline every day as I drive to work! We walk to church most Sundays, and there are several great restaurants just down the street. We're slowly but surely making it our own. Interior shots to come soon!

Four years ago

2009-05-17T15:13:00.006-04:00

Four years ago today in Clearwater Beach, Florida, Kyle and I met. While neither of us remember that first conversation, it was on May 17th that we arrived in Clearwater along with 40 other college students. We spent 11 weeks there, on Summer Project. It was a life-changing summer, and I don't just say that because we met then. So many wonderful friendships and relationships came out of that summer, and it was an amazing time of spiritual growth and living in community. It's hard to believe it has been four years!

Oh, the places you'll go

2009-05-12T17:49:00.008-04:00

My brother Brent graduated from Appalachian this past weekend! Kyle and I made the trip up to Boone, and it was a beautiful day to graduate! (The first beautiful graduation weekend in the last two years - both of my graduations were cold and rainy.) He majored in Music Industries with a concentration in guitar. I can't wait to see where he ends up! After completing his internship, he will be off into the real world, and he may very well settle down in another state to work in the music industry. (I'm hoping for Nashville or Atlanta.)

The Music Man

What a rockstar

Walking across the stage

My family (sorry Brent, this was the only one that wasn't blurry)

Siblings

Tassel in the face. Muahaha.

Congrats!

Quiet on the set!

2009-05-11T11:08:00.008-04:00

We recently shot a video at work to give new clients a snapshot of everything that we do. I think it turned out great!

For more videos on local businesses, head to Triangle Blvd.

So glad for Spring!

2009-05-07T22:33:00.005-04:00

My neighbor gave me these beautiful peonies! I'm so glad the weather is getting warmer - Kyle and I are looking forward to going on vacation in just a few weeks, a trip to Clearwater Beach, FL where we met.

We've been busy doing some home improvements. I'll share some pictures when we finish our bathroom renovation.

My Tar Heel

2009-04-26T18:08:00.005-04:00

Kyle at a party for graduating seniors at UNC.

Unreasonable Joy

2009-04-25T12:22:00.005-04:00

Kyle and I have enjoyed being able to serve at Vintage 21 Church by being on the Design Team. As part of that team, we design backgrounds for song slides, the programs handed out on Sundays, inserts for the light boxes, and any other posters, handouts, or signage needed. The sermon series we are doing now is entitled, "Unreasonable Joy: Poured out in Philippians." Kyle and I were excited to design the graphics for this series as the first project that we've worked on together.

Paul is a pretty fascinating character: He was a Jew who persecuted Christians, but he became a Christian after God spoke to him. He became the one being persecuted - he was jailed, beaten, and ultimately beheaded for his faith. You might look at historical evidence that Christ lived, died, and resurrected, but to me, the evidence is in the lives of the early Christians. What would make Paul willing to die for his faith? It just doesn't make sense, it's not rational, but he had joy in the midst of everything that happened to him.

As we've studied Paul's unreasonable joy for the past month, I've thought of Tony and Charity Myers. Tony married Kyle and I, and he met with us for premarital counseling. At one of our last meetings, he shared that Charity was pregnant with their first child. She was due on February 8th, but lost their daughter about a week before her due date. In the midst of their grief, I've been encouraged by their hope and joy. To read more about their story, click here. Tony and Charity - we love you both and we continue to think of you and pray for you!

Our most recent and most hilarious wedding gift

2009-04-17T18:09:00.003-04:00

Poor potato. This unfortunate character was illustrated by Don and embroidered by Stacie, two of Kyle's coworkers. I bet your dish towel isn't nearly as interesting as mine.

I love weddings

2009-04-16T20:10:00.009-04:00

As I headed to Shelby the weekend before last to attend a wedding, I looked forward to a beautiful wedding that at the very least, would produce a couple with the same name. Yes, Morgan & Morgan Young. I always like weddings - such a happy time, but this wedding was a really neat experience as well. Everything was beautiful! I wanted to share some shots from the wedding.

Morganna (as my mom always calls her) and I lived in the same neighborhood for most of our childhood. In high school, Morgan, being two years ahead of me, had her license. She invited me to go shopping with her one weekend. I was pretty excited - it wasn't often at that point in my life that I got to leave the house without my parents.

If you'd like to see more amazing pictures from their wedding, click here. (Photo of the couple by Smitten Photography.) Congratulations Morgans!

I ♥ the church

2009-04-07T20:07:00.002-04:00

We love our church. Vintage 21 has been our home for two and a half years now, and we love it so much that we live just down the street (no lie).

I love the people, I love the message, I love Jesus and I love loving him there. I don't think I've experienced another church where someone who wasn't a Christian would feel so welcome. Don't get me wrong; they don't sugarcoat the gospel - they make Christianity relevant and real. You see changed lives and Christ becomes undeniable. I think I first heard of Vintage from the Jesus Videos. If you don't know what I'm talking about, you'll have to click on that link and watch them. These videos were first shown a few years ago during a sermon series.

Recently, Kyle and I have gotten to know Jumbo, an Australian intern at Vintage. We first got together over dinner one night.

I really enjoyed hearing about his ministry, The Nehemiah Project. He and Lachlan are here to learn the ins and outs of church planting before returning to Sydney to start a congregation that will appeal to our generation. Please pray for them, or even consider supporting them - I can't wait to hear what God does when they return to Australia!

More than a job

2009-04-05T16:45:00.007-04:00

I love what I do. After a lot of thought and prayer, I decided about six years ago that I wanted to be an interior designer. I can't deny the desire that God placed in me to be creative, but specifically to create inspiring spaces. Everyone deserves design, and if you've ever seen Extreme Home Makeover, you've seen what a difference design can make in someone's life. But what exactly do I do?

That is my desk at work. I work for Design Lines, LTD, an interior design firm located in Raleigh. Judy Pickett started Design Lines thirty years ago, and it has now grown to eight employees, with six interior designers. I'm the newest addition to the team, and I've really enjoyed working on various projects - everything from high rise condos, vacation homes, and personal residences to commercial facilities like the alumni club at NC State. Sometimes we work with architects and builders on homes throughout the construction process. Other times we work with homeowners to furnish and accessorize their homes. I'm an interior designer, not a decorator. While I do decorate on occasion, there is a big difference between the two that most people don't realize. To understand more about the difference, click here.

I recently blogged about some accessorizing I did for the 2008 Parade of Homes on the Design Lines Blog. Although the home was empty, the idea was to create areas of interest, snapshots if you will, that visitors would remember. Here is a slide show of the images that I captured just before the Parade of Homes opened last fall:

Dennis II

2009-03-29T16:11:00.006-04:00

As some of you know, I have an awesome scooter that I cruise around Raleigh on, with speed upwards of 40mph! Here are rare shots of me on my scooter (rare because I'm usually blazing by too quickly!).

My scooter's name is Dennis II. It is a Yamaha C3. My first scooter was named Dennis I (after my pet turtle). It was a Honda Metropolitan. Dennis I was a great scooter, but a little small for me.

Ironically, the Shelley's just blogged about scooters as well.

I do consider myself an ambassador for scooter owning and riding. Many people falsely characterize scooters as being uncool or even unmanly. Those people are, of course, most likely overcompensating for feelings of inadequacy and have in fact, never ridden a scooter before.

New haircut!

2009-03-29T14:59:00.004-04:00

After around nine years of my hair staying virtually the same (below my shoulders in length with some layering), it was time for a change! I woke up one Saturday a few weeks ago, and without too much thought, I headed over to the Hair Color Experts for a cut. [First timers get 20% off - If you go, say I recommended it to you and I'll get $10 credit!] A few hours later, I emerged with a new do.

I had short hair for most of my childhood, so I wanted to steer clear of the haircut I had back then - curled under, parted down the middle, with 'adorable' bangs. The shot on the right is one of my favorites of me and my Nana. Since getting it cut, I've found the curlers still come in handy with styling it.

The snow of '09

2009-03-27T14:49:00.005-04:00

The winter weather in North Carolina over the past few months is sure to be remembered for a while to come. I can't think of two big snows back to back like we experienced this year.

Ironically we did just move to the corner of Snow Avenue and Hargett Street. We got about 5 inches of snow in January, when I took these pictures. Kyle and I enjoyed exploring the neighborhood. The snow was still coming down pretty hard.

The second time it snowed, in late February, we were in Nashville, TN. It snowed across most of TN and NC, so we got to witness the whole thing as we tried to make it back to Raleigh. I drove in the snow more than I ever have before, and I feel much more comfortable with it now. By the time we reached Greensboro at around 9pm, the lanes were completely covered, so we stopped and spent the night in a hotel. I think it snowed 6-8 inches there.

The snow was fun, but I'm glad it is spring!

Ikea came to Charlotte & so did we!

2009-03-21T22:09:00.005-04:00

After seeing the big blue box of a store on I-85 every time I drove through Charlotte, we couldn't help but stop shortly after it opened.

While we didn't make any major purchases, just being there was very inspiring. Personally I loved walking through their room scenes and store displays.

The designers at Ikea do an incredible job showing their products - every section has an interesting display. I've gotten the Ikea catalog since high school, so it was nice to see their pieces in person. I was a little disappointed in the quality. I don't think that you can really complain with the prices - but after sitting in several of the sofas and chairs, I don't think I would be interested in purchasing them. They weren't very comfortable, and I don't feel like they would last very long. But they sure make it look great!

Here's to Kyle

2009-03-17T21:43:00.010-04:00

24 years ago yesterday, my husband was born. Kyle was the cutest kid too! I enjoyed spending the day making him feel special and loved. I baked a cake for him - chocolate with raspberries on top! (And of course 24 candles.) I knew he wanted a few seasons of the Simpsons on DVD, so I got them for him, but I always enjoy thinking of something he wouldn't ask for on his own. This year, I picked out a custom six pack of beers from around the world for him - a few I knew he liked, one he had on our honeymoon, and a few new ones to try. Since I don't care for beer, the beverage expert at World Market assisted me in picking out a selection he was sure to enjoy.

Happy Birthday babe!

Happy Birthday to ME

2009-03-15T23:57:00.013-04:00

Today I am 24 years old.

I've learned many things in my 24 years on earth. For example:

- Owning a pet turtle may seem like a good idea at first, but when you get salmonella poisoning from the little guy it makes you wonder.
- It's much more fun to not care what strangers think about you. Yes, I am a male. Yes, I ride a scooter around town. Yes, I enjoy riding it.
- Arrested Development is the funniest show of all time.

Here's to 24 more. And also, 24 after that. That's all.

The day I became a McKay...

2009-03-15T22:59:00.008-04:00

To recap a bit, Kyle and I were married on August 2nd, 2008 in my hometown. After dating for three years, I was excited to live in the same city and spend every day together. I married the love of my life, and it was such a beautiful day! Here are some clips of our wedding day that our videographer uploaded to YouTube:

[I have to say it looks pretty funny to watch us dancing when you can't hear the music we were dancing to.]

Welcome to our blog!

2009-03-15T16:34:00.008-04:00

During the past year I've enjoyed reading blogs - whether they were personal blogs or inspirational blogs. I've also been a contributor to the blog where I work, the Design Lines Blog.

I think it was only time before we got a blog of our own. And here it is!

'Hey McKay' will be a place where we keep you up to date on our lives, our travels, our celebrations, and our inspirations. I will probably be the main contributor, but if and when Kyle posts, I'm sure it will be great! Since we got married last August, so many exciting things have happened - I can't wait to see what is next and to share our journey with you!