Win the new Haven's Kitchen cookbook (and a Williams-Sonoma stainless steel tool set!)

Hello, lovelies! Today, Artisan Books has partnered with me to support an exciting new cookbook: The Haven's Kitchen Cooking School: Recipes and Inspiration to Build a Lifetime of Confidence in the Kitchen. One lucky The Lovely Side reader will win this must-have manual to kitchen confidence and a shiny Williams-Sonoma stainless steel tool set (prizing pictured above). Keep scrolling to read an excerpt and enter the giveaway using the Rafflecopter widget down below.

No matter what kind of home cook you are—budding beginner or full-on chef—this book will come in handy and equip you with the fundamental building blocks you need to feel confident and at ease in the kitchen.Want to know how to boil eggs or whip up the perfect omelet? What about making dressings, stocks, and sauces? Or properly stocking your fridge and pantry? Cayne's got you covered. I'm most interested in getting over my fear of frying (it's a thing) and learning to pick and cut my own herbs. 

Summer Entertaining with Grove + My Go-To 3-Ingredient Dessert Recipe

We're finally starting to entertain at home. Last summer, we didn't do a whole lot of that. Instead, we were settling in, furnishing the place, and planning and tackling our first major projects. Our only guests were close friends and family who were popping in to see the house, help with projects, or hang out with us when we needed a break from home improvement conquests.

Now, our entire first floor (except for one room that I can live with until fall) has been stripped of wallpaper, painted, and decorated. We can spontaneously invite friends and family members over without fretting about old wallpaper, drywall dust, or "off-limits" rooms blocked off by plastic sheets. Instead of cleaning up construction zones, we simply have to tidy up.

Looks I Love: Wallflowers

Oh, how I love flowery walls. This decor trend probably isn't something I'd do right now. 1) I have enough floral patterns on my rugs, bedding, artwork, and accessories. And 2) we've spent enough time the last few months peeling wallpaper. But the look of floral patterns and murals on the walls is something that certainly makes me swoon. It reminds me of the garden frescoes found on the walls of houses in Pompeii—especially the ones with birds perched on branches. 

Win an #EverythingEverything movie/book prize pack!

This giveaway is now closed. Click here for more contests.

Thank you Warner Bros. Pictures for providing the prizing and samples for this sweepstakes.

Good morning, lovelies! I'm so excited about the giveaway kicking off today.

Nicola Yoon's bestselling book Everything, Everything has been on my TBR list for a while—and now, Warner Bros. Pictures, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures, and director Stella Meghie are bringing the swoonworthy romantic drama to the big screen on May 19. The film stars Amandla Stenberg (The Hunger Games) as Maddy, Nick Robinson (Jurassic World) as Olly, Ana de la Reguera (Sun Belt Express), and Anika Noni Rose (Dreamgirls). 

And thanks to Warner Bros. Pictures, one lucky The Lovely Side reader will receive this adorable prize pack, including a copy of the book (movie tie-in cover), Everything, Everything tank top and backpack, and a $25 Visa gift card to go see the movie in theaters.

Make more time for summer fun with Grove Collaborative

This offer has expired, but stay tuned for more special deals.

It may not be "officially" summer yet, but the beautiful weather has arrived. For me, that means weekends and weeknights spent outside grilling supper, sitting next to the fire pit, and (eventually) floating around in the pool with a refreshing drink.

Wayfair Sofa Review: Out with the orange couch, in with the purple Andover Mills Dewitt Sectional

I tend to get sentimentally attached to furniture. (Weird, I know.) And my retro orange couch and me have been through a lot in four years. I bought the bright orange, That 70's Show-worthy sofa from a lovely couple on Craigslist, right before moving out of my college town and to a new city for my first "big girl" job. It sat in my grandma's garage while I crashed with G and hunted for my own place. But eventually, it ended up my first all-to-myself apartment.

The Decorating Evolution of my Home Office (It's finally finished!)

I'm so behind on sharing house progress with you! It's been over a month since I posted about my office makeover being underway—and it's been finished for several weeks now. I absolutely love how it turned out. 

It's dark, but colorful. Vintage-y and eclectic. Filled with my favorite art, books, and writing inspiration. A cozy place to work my day job 8-to-5, read in the evenings, and spend the weekends blogging and writing. Out of everywhere in this house, this is where I spend most of my time.