Featured Blogger -- Andy of Poppies at Play!

One day during our blog browsing we came across a little something golden.....

that little something is Poppies at Play. We love their motto: dream it. create it. love it.

IT immediately caught our eye which is why it was a MUST to include Andy on our list of favorite blogs!

We are thrilled to introduce you to Andy and her blog - along with her beautiful work.

{1} Tell us about yourself & your blog, Poppies at Play.

Hello! My name is Andy and I am the author of Poppies at Play! I am married to Joe and together we have 5 beautiful children. The Joe works as a shop teacher at the local junior high and his interest in woodworking really gave me a desire to learn how to use power tools. I've developed a great love for creating, building and repurposing. I started blogging a couple of years ago in an effort to develop my creative talents. Poppies at Play is a place for me to house and catalog all of my repurposed furniture, vinyl designs and DIY home accessories. I also annually host a bloggy style parade of homes to showcase the interior design skills of talented bloggers.

{2} When did you realize you wanted to enter the bloggin' world?

When I began blogging I really didn't understand what it meant to enter into the blogging world. It was quite a thrilling surprise to see how many people shared similar hobbies and I am constantly amazed and inspired by woman who are successfully creating a warm and loving environment on a tight budget. I can definitely relate to pinching pennies! I am actually very glad that we don't have a lot of money. It's much more fun and fulfilling to decorate a home from scratch.

{One of Andy's DIY projects. See the kitchen island before here.}

{3} One of the things you show-off on your blog is your vinyls & the many projects you have done with them. When did your love of vinyls begin?

The Joe and I both have a desire to open a small store of our own one day. We thought it would be beneficial for us to own a large vinyl machine. When we first purchased it, I was completely clueless. If I wanted something made, I would ask The Joe to design and print it for me. Over the past two years I have really enjoyed learning about Illustrator and graphic design. Now I frequently use vinyl on my repurposed furniture or to create unique stencils.

I also love to design vinyl signs and have really been blessed by being able to make some extra money by selling vinyl and still have the pleasure of being at home with my children.

If you are interested is seeing which vinyl designs are for sale, you can hop over to The Market.

{4} Do you have a favorite post?

I don't really have a favorite post, but a surprisingly popular idea was Ding Dong Ditching with Ding Dongs. I designed a couple of simple printables to go along with the idea. It was definitely a one of my kids favorite activities!

{5} What are some of your favorite sites & blogs to surf?

One of my favorite sites to visit is Funky Junk Interiors. Donna is an amazing author and I love her tips on blogging and photography as well as her inspiring projects. I also really enjoy stopping by Apartment Therapy and Design Sponge.

{6} Just recently you showed of your home in the Parade of Houses. What is your favorite room in your house & why?

My favorite room in the house is my family room. It's not fancy, but it's the place where we spend the most time together as a family and where we get together with friends. It's also the room that changes most frequently. Maybe it's because I spend so much time looking at it. I'm trying to curb my addiction for change and be content with the way things are for a little while.

I wanted to keep this room very white and clean feeling. It helps to balance out my addiction to bright colors.

{DIY: Picture Frame Bookshelf}

{7} What is your favorite DIY project?

DIY projects are my very favorite!! I love to dream projects up in my head and then try to figure out how to make them come to life. It gives me such a great sense of accomplishment!! I love having The Joe come home from work and be impressed by something that I have built. I am really an amateur woodworker, but I loved building this picture frame bookshelf, our magazine rack, and with The Joe's help, our kitchen island shelf.

{DIY: Magazine Rack}

I would like to give a HUGE thank you to Casi and cupcakeMAG for featuring my blog!! It was an honor and I'm so completely flattered by the invitation!

Thank YOU Andy for being so amazing and sharing your blog with us!

Make sure you head over and follow Poppies at Play now and LIKE them on Facebook. Andy would love to have you along for the ride on their brand new page!

Courtney Dial Inspires!

Courtney Dial puts the Pizzaz in Pizzazzerie. Yep, that's right she is basically a party planning genius. Well, not basically - she is a genius!  Not only is she just beyond amazing and so genuine - she is the complete brain behind the one & only - Pizzazerie. We were just thrilled to sit down and chat with Courtney! And by the way - isn't she like the cutest little thing ever! We just want to put her in our pocket. We adore her! Not just because she is a hard working entrepreneur under the age of 25 but she has amazing passion as the creator and editor of Pizzazzerie.com -- all about the art of entertaining. It is your go to place for recipes, ideas and DIY parties - she was even featured on MarthaStewart.com. Basically, she is perfection in a nutshell. 

What is behind the name, Pizzazzerie? 

The word pizzazz means "an attractive combination of energy and style", and I have always loved the French word pâtisserie so I combined them. That's where I got Pizzazzerie! :) It's definitely not a site about pizza to some people's dismay though we did just write an article on a fun gourmet pizza party! 

When you first started the site, did you ever dream it would turn into something so amazing so quick?

Never! I thought it would be something that I did every couple of nights as a fun hobby. I had no idea that within 3 months, I would be leaving my full-time job at Vanderbilt University to manage Pizzazzerie! It's been a whirlwind but a blessing. I am so thankful and honored to have met the amazing industry professionals and readers that I interact with daily. 

When you aren't busy with Pizzazzerie - what can we catch you doing? What other things do you enjoy?

When I'm not busy with Pizzazzerie, you can find me headed to an Auburn or Vanderbilt football game with my boyfriend, outside running, or spending time with my friends over a great glass of wine at one of Nashville's fun restaurants. I always have to find time to get away from "work" as an entrepreneur because it's easy to get caught up in working 24/7. My friends and family are very supportive and love dragging me away to go on a vacation, catch a movie, or even go on a long walk. 

Do you have a favorite party to date?

This is a tough one, the parties I have thrown lately have all been so different (from a peacock themed engagement party to a beer tasting party). I would say my favorite to date would be a Berries & Bellinis party I hosted this past summer for a dear friend. We had a build-your-own-berry-cobbler bar that was so yummy. We had bowls of fresh berries and raspberry bellinis. Delicious! 

If you could help one celebrity decorate and host an event who would it be and why?

Though I helped her a bit with a recent sip 'n see, getting to fully plan an event with Tori Spelling (who is also an amazing party designer) would be my choice! She's such a doll and has been a supporter of Pizzazzerie so I would absolutely love to put our heads together for a fabulous event. Other celebrities I'd love to decorate an event for would be Faith Hill and Alyssa Milano. 

What is your favorite part about having Pizzazzerie?

My favorite party is the creation stage, when the ideas are flowing about a party design. I love pulling together all those ideas to come up with a unique and creative party design. That is where I am the happiest - designing and creating! 

What do you think is your biggest accomplishment?

I would say my biggest accomplishment (besides being interviewed for the fabulous CupcakeMag - so thrilled!!) - would be completing my Masters in Organizational Leadership and being an entrepreneur at 25. Not being afraid to walk away from a full-time, secure job in order to follow my dream. 

Courtney just styled for the latest issue of Nashville Lifestyles Magazine

10 Things You Don't Know About Courtney

1.) I was born in Texas but grew up in the Carolinas (Charleston & Raleigh)

2.) Prior to Pizzazzerie, I was a career counselor at Vanderbilt University, recruiting engineering companies on campus and helping students find jobs out of school. 

3.) I wanted to be a genetic counselor when I grew up.

4.) My Mom used to film segments about table ideas as well as write for entertaining magazines. 

5.) I am a big Duke basketball fan (my brother went there). I'm a big college sports fan in general. 

6.) I'm addicted to really cheesy Lifetime Movies. 

7.) I love anything banana flavored - banana pudding is the best!

8.) I used to teach ceramics on the pottery wheel in the summers.

9.) In graduate school, I started a custom cookie business called "The Sweets Boutique" named after my 95 year old grandmother, who we call "Sweet". But graduate school demands were tough, so that was the end of the Sweets Boutique :) 

10.) My favorite foods are mashed potatoes, queso, birthday cake ice cream, and chocolate cake (can we say carbs?). 

Connect with Courtney & all things Pizzazzerie 

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