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203 Yumlington Place 2016

I'm On (Kitchen) Island Time

I'm On (Kitchen) Island Time

May 07, 2017
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I was very sad to pull up to my house last week to see that my new Crosley Stainless Steel Top Portable Kitchen Island (say that five times fast!) had arrived not put together. I was also sad to see that it had arrived without a round-trip ticket to a real island with palm trees…can you tell I’m ready for a vacation?
I purchased this gem from Home Depot. Home Depot and Lowe's have become my new addiction--they're like my new Target. I can't quite explain it, but I imagine it has something to do with me being a home owner now!
I was so sad that I left the boxes on my front porch for a couple more hours as punishment until I was ready to let them come inside The Mint Cottage. They then sat in the living room for a few more days and acted as a jungle gym for my sweet angel kittens.
Confession: I actually didn't use my pink screw driver once because it was a flathead and I needed the philips head...does that sound right? Oh well! Anywho, it still made an appearance in a few pics because I just couldn't help myself. :)
Before I fill you in on this experience, I feel like I should give you a little background on my level of handiness. I’m a girl who is fairly stubborn a majority of the time when it comes to doing house "stuff" on my own, mostly because of the tool-accessories that I have. You may be wondering what exactly tool-accessories are…well, they are my cute tools: a little pink drill, a pink tool box with cute little matching pink tools, and well, that’s pretty much all of my tool-accessories. So, if you ever need a picture, mirror, or shelf hung, then I’m definitely your girl. If you ever need help replacing your A/C filter, I’m actually still your girl. If you ever need help hanging new wood blinds, replacing your ceiling fan, or doing something plumbing-related, then stop where you are because I am 100% not your girl. I bought a new ceiling fan probably over a year ago—and it’s happily still sitting in its box under my guest bed…

In the past, I was very quick to call my stepdad, Mark, for miscellaneous tasks that I was just not cut out to do.  This time however, I was more than determined to put this sucker together all on my own! (Mostly because I recently replaced my A/C and mowed my lawn, so really I just felt like I was on a roll!) I charged up with two cups of coffee, unpacked the boxes, laid out the pieces-- may or may not have freaked out a little when I saw how many dang parts there actually were--and happily opened the instructions to preview how helpful they were (or were not) going to be. 
Aside from the additional counter space this provides me, the wheels are what make this so useful for me! I can literally utilize is from anywhere in my kitchen.
Things got pretty serious, but only a little bit of blood was drawn. 100% user error...used a knife to open something up, I definitely DO NOT recommend doing that!

You don't need to know me very well to know that I am extremely direct (some would argue too direct at times) and straight to the point when communicating. So you can understand how much I appreciate instructions that tell me exactly what to do and when to do it. I mean, pictures are nice and all, but they use letters and arrows..and it’s just not all that helpful. Whoever was responsible for drawing up the instructions for this kitchen island is a person after my own heart! At no point throughout the process did I question what I was doing, nor did I have to call one of my handymen that I have on speed dial—which I’m sure they appreciated not hearing from me as much as I appreciated not having to call them. 
My kitchen towels are honestly my favorite way to accessorize my kitchen! They're so small, yet they bring so much personality to the room.

My go-to place for cute hand towels is Swoozie's! That's where my NC state "welcome friends" one is from. 

I will say that even though I had some ease when putting together this pretty little island, it still was no piece of cake…but you better believe I enjoyed eating a piece of cake off of it afterwards in celebration!

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6 Ways To Maximize Your Small Space

6 Ways To Maximize Your Small Space

April 23, 2017
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"Just because your space is small doesn't mean it can't be magnificent!"

Proportions. Essentially, small spaces should be equipped with smaller décor. This doesn’t mean you can only use tiny furniture—you just want to be sure to stay aware of proportions. If you have a large television you want to choose a piece of furniture that can complement its size. If you have shelves on your wall or a bookcase, be sure the items and accessories you place on it are all similar to each other in size.

Mirrors. Y’all would think I am the most conceited person if you saw how many mirrors The Mint Cottage has! Now I may like a long glance in one every now and then, but the real reason I have so many is because they can add depth to your rooms. A majority of the time they act as an additional window, reflecting double the amount of light in the room, which can also double your space!

Multi-tasking furniture. Furniture that can take on more than one purpose is super helpful in maximizing your small space. Small spaces tend to not have enough storage. For example, find you a piece of furniture like a dresser or book case to use as a television stand. My television stand happens to be a bookcase that I’ve had since college. I purchased inexpensive wicker baskets similar to these to add additional storage. Side note: don’t overlook furniture hand-me-downs! My television stand is also the same bookcase my mom used when she was in college!

Paint colors. Pick a soft simple palette for your walls. I was fortunate enough to purchase my house already freshly painted with neutral colors. Using lighter colors not only brightens your rooms and makes it appear larger, but it also gives you flexibility with the color of your décor.

Don’t be afraid to accessorize! Fill your walls, shelves, and tables with things you love! Doing so will automatically make your home seem more personal and inviting. Just be sure your accessories are organized and intentional with their placements to avoid becoming clutter. The Mint Cottage has so many knick-knacks because its owner (I won’t name any names…) has a problem, but that’s okay because they are all strategically organized!

The number of pineapples I have throughout my home is a little unreal. I can't help myself! Pineapples actually have a neat story to them: historically, this fruit was crowned that of social events and became the symbol of welcome, friendship, and hospitality. If you saw a whole pineapple displayed at a party, then that told you no expense was spared in guaranteeing yours and other guests' enjoyment. So, in other words, I'm super hospitable here at The Mint Cottage!
(1. Pineapple Trinket Dish    2. Kate Spade Candy Stripe Note Pads    3. Pineapple Candle Jar    4. Bamboo Print Matchbox    5. Things We Love Book     6. Island Style Book)


I never turn away family furniture hand-me-downs! Even if you don't have a place for them when you first receive them, hold on to them--you never know when you'll feel like changing your home's look! These are from my Aunt Paige and their sizes complement everything else in the room.
Rugs. If you know me at all, then you know I love to "cut a rug!" I also love using rugs as décor and space creators! Rugs, if used decorously--this is an actual word, I promise—will create additional depth in the room. Also don’t be afraid to mix patterns and colors with your rug! Just be sure its colors are attached to other accessories around the room to avoid a cluttered look.

This rug is one of my favorite purchases, and I didn't even have to break the bank to buy it! I just love how it ties in my entire living room space. You can purchase it here in different sizes!
I'm a sucker for a pretty wingback chair. I've found that the best ones are at local shops like The Red Collection, Shoppes on Patterson, and Carriage House. You can spend days just exploring shops like these! But I'm obsessed with how perfectly this chair (which I got from my mother's house) pairs with my rug!
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Oh, Hoppy Day!

Oh, Hoppy Day!

April 17, 2017
For Easter, I finally gave the deviled eggs making a try, and apparently they were eggcelent!


Wow, even I rolled my eyes after reading that joke--let's just pretend I told a better one!
Any chance I get to photograph my eggs I definitely take because I purchased the cutest egg crate that goes perfectly with the rest of my pistachio-colored kitchen stuff! I got mine at Home Goods, but similar ones can be found on Etsy.
My favorite part of Easter has always been the time spent with family. Some of my fondest memories were formed around this holiday! One that I will never forget is the year mom and I visited my aunt Jonanne in Tokyo, Japan over Easter break. I was only 9 years old at the time so everything about this trip was pretty bizarre to me. Mom and I could not get used to the time change, so in the middle of each night you could find us laying in bed watching movies on our mini dvd players that we rented from the airport. For some reason I thought that was the most fun--it was like a sleepover party but with my mom, something I don't think I'll ever outgrow!

That handsome guy in the front is my nephew, who is Franklin by day and Super Boy by night! He was our little Easter ham this year and we couldn't get enough of him per usual! Whenever we would say cheese for photos he would say "Super Boy" and do a little pose! Could you not just eat him on a cracker?!

Love my sassters!  1. Spring Beaded Scarf Necklace - y'all, to say I'm obsessed with this necklace is an understatement! It's perfect for spring and summer. Check out the Beth Ladd Collections website for so many more amazing accessories.
As for the food, when I wasn't eating meatball subs from Subway and the multiple bowls of slurpy noodles, I was busy experiencing so many new things, some really great, and some not so great, like the chalky Japanese candy that was super popular at the time...no thank you. Growing up in our household, if you didn't like what was being served at meals, then you just went hungry...or made you a bowl of cereal. This was also the case while we were in Tokyo. Looking back, I'm actually glad this was the case because it made me try certain things that I otherwise may never have developed a liking for. 
Finally putting the deviled egg platter to good use! I got mine at the Swoozie's here in Greensboro, but I'm sure other locations carry it, as well!

 My point is that I was constantly challenged to step outside of my, very small comfort zone as it related to foods, but I'm so glad I did/was forced to. It expanded my horizons and palette at such a young age, and really taught me how enriching stepping out can be..

Kat filled me in on an eggceptional secret...okay, I promise that was the last one...older eggs peel easier, and this must be true because peeling these took no time. Only one egg was damaged during the peel process...
I think that's why it took me so long to finally make these darn deviled eggs! It's a dish that is completely out of my "baking" comfort zone that I've come to know over the years. I will openly admit that I am not one who likes to change her ways, so the thought of doing something new and different was a bit intimidating. It was quite the experiment and I'm thankful for my friend Kat who gave me her recipe and answered my many questions that I had throughout the entire process. 

Similar to your cleaning supplies and spare lightbulbs, Duke's Mayonnaise is just another household necessity--no but really, it's a must when making anything that calls for mayo, just ask Southern Living!
It's crazy to think about all the amazing things you can create when you step outside your comfy little box! Sometimes the thought of something is a lot more intimidating than actually doing it.


A fancy piping bag is totally not necessary--I usually just use a regular Ziploc bag and cut one of the corners--works like a charm!

Ta-da! The dish looks much better when actually in use.




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