If anyone out there shares my combined love of John Mayer and home interiors, get ready because you are in for a treat, yes indeed! 

The staffers over at ELLE Decor were lucky enough to visit John Mayer's super chic SoHo apartment in New York City. In case you couldn't pick up on my love of John Mayer from my previous post "Summertime Playlist," I will admit I am very enthused about this sneak peak into his home life.

Although his digs are not as "rocker-esque" as I had envisioned, the entire apartment was designed by none other than Giorgio Armani. His sleek and sophisticated space looks comfortable and the choice of furnishings are bold as love (ok, that one was a stretch). 

Here's a little mood music before you get started...

If you haven't checked out the Southern Living Texas Idea House yet, you are missing out! There's endless ideas and inspiration filled in every inch of this house, and I pulled a few of my favorites to hopefully inspire you to go check it out.

This dining room was featured on the cover of last months issue. My favorite feature is the nautical rope that was used to hang the vintage light fixtures.

One things for sure, I love a bold graphic print. Since this wallpaper print makes such a statement, it was smartly placed on just one accent wall behind the bed to keep it from overwhelming the room.

When I was in 6th grade, my mom surprised me one day by informing me she had signed  me up for a 6-week etiquette course with several of my friends. Now, most kids might see this as a fun excuse to hang out with their friends outside of school, but  I immediately burst into tears and begged and pleaded with my mother to get me out of the course.

To explain the reasoning for my inconsolable grief, let me explain that this course was not just for girls. There would be boys there as well... And we would be partnered as dates each week  with these boys... And forced to learn ballroom dances like the Foxtrot, Waltz and even swing dancing... Sounds horrible, right? Well, as a 6th grader, it was probably the worst thing I could imagine. Somehow, I survived the course (with much complaining to my mom, I'm sure) and to my surprise I came out actually learning some useful knowledge.

Even though I don't always remember the correct angle to place silverware along your plate to notify the waiter you are finished with your meal, I can appreciate the basics of etiquette I learned from these courses and from a southern upbringing.

Now that I am older, I have a much higher appreciation of good manners and everyday etiquette. Especially when I live in New York, a city filled with a population of almost 8 million, which requires you to come within mere centimeters of someone else in a crowded subway daily, and cramped restaurant tables bring  you much closer to your dining companions at the next table. 

Here is a funny, but insightful article from New York Magazine, "The Urban Etiquette Handbook." I think anyone who uses public transportation regularly would enjoy reading this article and get a good laugh along the way.

To me, there's probably nothing more peaceful in the summertime than sitting outside on the porch at dusk listening to the crickets with a glass of wine, a few good friends and some great conversation.

If you're looking for some fun background music to keep the mood light at your next outdoor gathering, here are a few suggestions I've been loving so far this summer. Some songs are new, some old, all are guaranteed to put a smile on your face. Hope you enjoy them as much as I have!

Click here to see the full playlist...

After only one month in New York, it's easy to see how New Yorkers become obsessed with celebrities and celebrity lifestyles. I have somehow managed to spot three celebrities myself so far, and even though I wouldn't consider myself a pop-culture fanatic, seeing someone in real life whose face you've memorized from the big screen or your favorite TV show will give you a slightly out-of-body experience. So, to nurse my new celeb-sighting obsession and combine it with my love for homes and interiors, here are some beautiful celeb homes I stalked all across the world wide web -- just for you!

This is the living room in the parisian apartment of none other than fashion designer, Christian Lacroix. The ecclectic mix of vintage and modern brings endless inspiration.

This weekend, I took a quick excursion down to lower Manhattan to check out Zarin Fabrics on Grand Street.

Since I am an unabashed fan of the Real Housewives of New York City, and Jill Zarin is one of my favorite housewives, I had to go check out the store simply for the excuse of blogging about the experience. Even though I have no need to make any fabric purchases, after browsing through aisle after aisle of their beautiful fabrics I was racking my brain to think of an excuse to purchase something.

It's time for this little intern to spread her wings and move up to The Big Apple! Come Monday, I will be en route to New York City and on my way to becoming an official New Yorker. Along with using "Ma'am" and "Sir" less frequently, and toning down my southern accent, I'm tuning into my street smarts and learning New York mannerisms like calling pizza, "pie" now.

Here's a tribute to all things fabulous in New York City:

One thing I am most excited about is Central Park!

Being a native of Alabama, it will be hard for me to say goodbye to the beautiful trees, lawns, wildflowers, etc., that I have grown up seeing every single day. I'm sure I will be visiting frequently and scouting out new running trails.

Happy Arbor Day from MyHomeIdeas.com!

Bring out the tree-hugger inside and celebrate today by browsing through our Outdoor Living channel for inspiration and ideas on how to get your garden and yard in shape for spring.

One thing about me is that I have a weakness for anything that comes in pretty packaging.  You know how they say don't judge a book by it's cover? Well, here's a little confession: I do. It's not a superficial thing, I just happen to be a visual person. There's no telling how many empty bags, packages or invitations I have collecting dust somewhere because I can't bring myself to part with their pretty designs and covers.

Have you even been in a store and wanted to buy something just to walk around with the shopping bag? That's how I feel about Dylan's Candy Bar store in New York.

Fact: I am 100% right-brained. I do know a few people who seem to functionally operate on both sides of their brain, but I have never been able to do this myself.

But that is OK, even though my mom told me I could grow up to be anything I wanted, I have come to terms with the fact that I will never be able to save lives by performing cardiac surgery. I do admit, there are some days I wish I could impress people with my vast understanding of the Riemann Hypothesis (Ouch, my brain hurts!), but I like that creativity is my strong suit. I started thinking about all of this today while browsing through many beautiful handmade items, and I am a huge fan of anything handmade. So in honor of things created from the right hemisphere of the brain, my post is dedicated to all things handmade.

One of our readers sent us this handmade vase, which we love for it's unique design, color and shape. This vase is so interesting, all you need are some simple inexpensive flowers to fill it with for a great addition to your coffee table. Plus, when your fresh out of flowers, it can double as a utensil holder for your kitchen counter.

For only $28, this chandelier wall decal from circlelinestudio on Etsy is sure to add sure to add some elegance with a modern twist to your boudoir without breaking the bank.