Style Archives - Page 2 of 9 - The Hill Hangout

Groupon Coupons

Posted on August 18, 2016 Written by Ashley Mills Hill Leave a Comment

This is a sponsored post. As always, opinions are mine.

So maybe I’m late the party (what else is new, huh?), but have you heard about Groupon Coupons? I’m not talking about the regular Groupon deals we’ve known about for ages. I’m talking about coupons on the Groupon site for ALL KINDS of retailers.

So this thing is super simple. When you get ready to shop, either online or in store, just check Groupon Coupons to see what kind of deals are available. All you have to do is log onto Groupon, look for the Coupon tab (or go here), and choose the coupon codes you want.

I checked it out and found Groupon Coupons for so many of my favorite stores:

Old Navy (Currently 10% off Kids and Baby Items)
J. Crew Factory Store (Currently 40% off everything)
Amazon.com
Sephora (Quite a few different deals)
Under Armour
Bed, Bath and Beyond (20% off one item in store)
Cost Plus World Market
Barnes and Noble (20% off one item online)
Forever 21
Staples
Urban Outfitters
Saks Fifth Avenue
Walgreen’s
Nordstrom

Groupon has been a great way to save money on restaurants, entertainment, and events for years. With the advent of Groupon Coupons, we can now save money in new ways!

Have you used Groupon Coupons? I’d love to know about the bargains you found. Leave a comment and let us know!

Filed Under: Style

2016 Parade of Homes

Posted on April 22, 2016 Written by Ashley Mills Hill 1 Comment

One of my favorite weekends of the year is coming up! The Birmingham 2016 Parade of Homes opens today and runs through this weekend and next, and it is always a fun weekend of design inspiration and beautiful interiors. If you’ve been needing to make a few updates to your home or are in the market to build, you can see some terrific ideas at the 2016 Parade of Homes.

I was invited by B-Metro Magazine to take you on a tour of one of the Parade homes. As I toured the Highland Lakes home by Murphy Home Builders, I noticed that there are several design features that aren’t slowing down anytime soon. People still demand an open floor plan, and rightly so. An open plan is family friendly and visually appealing.

Kitchen are still the heartbeat of the home, and homeowners want to see great appliances, countertops, and fixtures.

Comfortable living spaces with lots of natural light are also a must!

Outdoor living spaces provide extra square footage of gathering space. This great area has room for lounging in front of the outdoor fireplace, as well as a full-size dining table.

But while most new homes today have all of these features, it’s the details that really set a home apart. This home has terrific details that make it stand out from the rest. Why have a plain tray ceiling when you can add barn wood!

And don’t forget to switch out boring interior doors for something more, like these five panel beauties.

Laundry will be so much more fun for this homeowner in this beautiful laundry room. Additional details like wainscotting make a huge difference in how luxurious a room feels.

Murphy Home Builders called in Shannon Appling at Urban Market to add fabulous interiors. She did not disappoint, and these furnishings add to the charm and comfort of this lovely home.

If you like what you see at the Murphy Home in Highland Lakes, you can check out the following for more home design candy:

Byrom Building at The Preserve in Hoover
Embassy Homes at Nottingham in Calera and Black Creek Station in Fultondale
Harris Doyle Homes at Trussville Springs in Trussville, Keeneland Valley in Pelham, and Fieldstown Crossing in Gardendale
Donovan Builders at Grey Oaks in Chelsea
Thoroughbred Homes at Ballantrae in Pelham
Taylor Burton Company in the Ross Bridge area
Newcastle Homes at Hillsboro in Helena and Carrington Lakes in Trussville
Lifescape Builders at Liberty Park in Vestavia

If you’re the uber-organized type (like me!!) you can plan out your Parade route here. The Parade will be open 10:00-6:00 on both weekends, April 22-24 and April 29-May 1.

*This is a sponsored post for which I received compensation. As always, all opinions are entirely my own.

Filed Under: Style

Building and Remodeling Expo 2015

Posted on March 16, 2015 Written by Ashley Mills Hill Leave a Comment

Spring is just starting to peek it’s head out in Birmingham, and that means home building and renovating is just around the corner. You’ve probably already noticed the increase in the number of houses for sale, and that’s because spring is the #1 time of the year for the real estate market. Along with that peak comes an increase in the number of people getting their homes in shape after a long, damp winter. If you find yourself in the market to redo a few things around the house, you don’w want to miss the 2015 Building and Remodeling Expo going on this weekend at the Pelham Civic Center.

When it comes to building and/or remodeling, there are so many choices of contractors and subcontractors in the Birmingham area, that it can be overwhelming. The Building and Remodeling Expo is a terrific way to meet and speak with professionals in the construction industry BEFORE making expensive mistakes on who you choose to do the work. You will be able to visit with contractors, as well as professionals who provide flooring, countertops, cabinets, siding, bricks, roofing, pest control, appliances, lighting, and iron and glass work.

The Building and Remodeling Expo is going on this weekend, Friday, March 20-Sunday, March 22. The cost is $7, but I have a half-price coupon for you. Just print it out and bring it with you to receive entry for only $3.50.

Just like last year, I’ll be there with the B-Metro Magazine team telling you about all the great products you can find at the Expo. Be sure to follow along with me on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. You can also follow B-Metro on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Filed Under: Style

Most Popular Posts of 2014

Posted on December 31, 2014 Written by Ashley Mills Hill Leave a Comment

2014 has been a terrific year around the Hill Hangout! We have had more readers this year than in any other previous year since 2007, when we started posting a few pictures for our out-of-town family to see. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for hanging out with us. I feel that I have found MY people – the ones who love the Lord, love their families, love good food, love to fix things that are broken down, and love to explore new places. My top ten posts from 2014 reflect just that! I hope you’ll stick around for 2015.

10. Yum Yum Sauce

9. The Best Homemade And Killer

8. The Magic of Chalk Paint

7. Mudslide Pie

6. Summer Art Projects

5. Back to School Prayers

4. Greek Seasoning

3. Creamy Sriracha Dipping Sauce

2. Loaded Cornbread

1. Miracle Treatment for Eczema

Filed Under: Faith, Family, Homeschooling, Recipes, Style, Travels

Yellowhammer Supply Company

Posted on December 3, 2014 Written by Ashley Mills Hill Leave a Comment

Yellowhammer Multimedia CEO Cliff Sims announced on Monday that the company is launching a branded product and clothing line called Yellowhammer Supply Co. I checked it out, and they have some fabulous gifts for the MEN in your lives – just in time for Christmas!

Sims says, “Yellowhammer is about all things Alabama… We believe that (our) relationship (with readers of Yellowhammer News) will translate into a lot of excitement about Yellowhammer branded products, which we’re pleased to offer in time for the Christmas season. This is an authentic Alabama brand that represents the pride Alabamians have in our state and the way we present ourselves.”

Yellowhammer Supply Co. officially launched on Monday with an initial product line that includes a variety of high-end polos, soft-shell vests, t-shirts, hats and iPhone cases.

Yellowhammer Supply Co. products are currently available on YellowhammerSupply.com and are guaranteed to ship and arrive ahead of Christmas.

You can follow Yellowhammer Supply Company on Facebook.

This is a sponsored post for Yellowhammer Supply Company. All opinions are my own.

Filed Under: Style

Small Town America

Posted on November 29, 2014 Written by Ashley Mills Hill Leave a Comment

Whenever we travel, I always enjoy getting off the interstate and taking the highways. You can see so much of small town America on the back roads that you miss when you take the quick and easy routes. It’s usually worth the time and effort it takes to travel lesser known roads because you get to see and experience the culture and flavor of the regions that make up our great country. God has made each part of our country to have its own unique personality, and we see so much of Him when we take time to enjoy other cultures.

We came home from Orlando through south Georgia, and its was all back roads for us! Here are a few of the local sights we would have missed if we hadn’t ventured off:

Magnolia Plantation has everything you need to feel like you’ve been through south Georgia! They are known for Vidalia onions, so the pepper sauce is abundant.

I don’t know Pappy, but I bet he makes a good White Lightnin’ sauce!

And who doesn’t need a pair of hot oink baby Minnetonka moccasins!?! Aren’t these the cutest thing you’ve ever seen? Too bad my girls are too big for these!

Whether you’re a fan of GooGoo Clusters, salt water taffy, peanut brittle, or divinity, you can find it in south Georgia!

Sure, there’s the obligatory kitch like flamingo oil paintings and I heart Georgia shot glasses…

And you haven’t lived until you’ve had a cold Coke from the little green bottle!

After a few minutes at Magnolia Plantation, we scurried up the road to Carroll’s Sausage and Meats.

Not only do they sell the best hand crafted rockers (which I’m regretting my decision to leave behind!)…

But the meat selection is our kind of deal. We left $49 poorer, but with next week’s breakfasts planned.

The Big Guy was in his element choosing our smoked sausage, jerky, and hot breakfast sausage.

And we would have missed a real spectacle with these cotton fields, bursting with white. I so wish I’d had a pair of clippers to stop and snip a few branches. Do you think the farmer would have minded?

I’ve never regretted taking the long way home. We have had the opportunity to see so much more of what makes life have texture and purpose by taking the road less traveled. And you can take that as literally or as figuratively as you’d like.

Filed Under: Faith, Style, Travels

Camry Bold, Auburn Bold

Posted on November 11, 2014 Written by Ashley Mills Hill Leave a Comment

Y’all know I’m a sucker for an old classic made new again! Given the choice, I’ll take a remade classic over a new design anyway. The other day, Camry came calling to ask if I’d participate in a campaign featuring their 2015 model, and since it was all about putting a bold, new twist on a classic, I was in like Flynn.

The idea of the campaign was to take an old tradition (like the #1 selling car in America – the Camry), and be bold about doing it a new way. Since the 2015 Camry has been totally redesigned (a bold move, for sure!), we were to totally redesign our tradition as well. There’s nothing more traditional in the south than SEC football, so we went BOLD with a weekend in Auburn.

Let me back up a little. I am an Auburn graduate, but my husband went to Mississippi State. Through the years, we have had a fun rivalry between the two of us, and we have passed it on to our children. Although I look back on my time in Auburn as one of the best seasons of my life, our roots have been planted in Mississippi State since we married fifteen years ago. We take our girls there, attend ball games there, and it has been our “home team” for years. In fact, we have been to countless Mississippi State games over the years, but I have NEVER, not even once, taken my family to Auburn for a ballgame. This year I decided to get BOLD and do a weekend in Auburn RIGHT!

Of course, we needed a Camry for the weekend and Toyota graciously supplied us with a 2015 model to drive. Now, you know I drive a big ‘ole SUV, so I wasn’t sure how we would make it for a whole weekend in a sedan. Well, let’s just say we gained a whole new perspective about how well our family of four fits into a car. We had PLENTY of room, and I really enjoyed zipping around town in the Camry.

When I was a student at Auburn and people came to visit, the best place to stay was in one of the local hotels. Auburn wasn’t really known for having the best lodging choices, but how things have changed. Lake Martin is about 30 minutes away from Auburn, and it has really developed with tons of cottages that you can rent for ballgame weekends. So in the spirit of making BOLD changes to the old classics, we stayed at a precious home on Lake Martin.

And the food, oh the food! It was so, so fun to take my family back to one of my favorite hangouts, Cheeburger, Cheeseburger. The atmosphere was exactly the same, but the food was even better than I remembered. It was also a blast to take them to an old classic which was new to us, Kowliga on Lake Martin. The catfish poboys were to-die-for, and I could easily see us driving down for dinner one night soon. And you gotta love a place that brings out a six-pack of sauces…

But we upped the ante this time with a meal at Acre. You guys. I had no idea this place existed until I saw an article in Garden & Gun or Southern Living. But one look at the online menu, and we made a beeline right for it.

Chef David Bancroft has built his entire menu around putting a bold twist on southern classic dishes. And y’all, it just WORKS! Everything on the menu WORKS. I’ll write another post all about Acre, but I’ll leave you with the Sweet Potato Bread Pudding…

But the real highlight of the weekend was taking my family back to my old stomping grounds. I showed them my old apartment, which was in surprisingly good shape.

Then we headed over to a VIP tailgate in the basketball arena. We enjoyed Jim ‘N Nick’s BBQ while watching the ladies’ volleyball team practice. The girls even stocked up on TP, should we need it at Toomer’s Corner after the game. (Unfortunately, we got to take that TP home with us. Sadly, it wasn’t needed for a post-win celebration.)

And then I tok my family to their very first Auburn game. It was the first time I’d been back since my college days, and it was definitely more fun to share it with these three…

It was a bucket list experience to have them with me, and to see this guy in orange and blue was icing on the cake. It suits him, don’t you think?

I have such respect for a company like Toyota that takes a classic like the Camry, which is the most popular car in America as it is, and totally re-invents it to keep it at the top of its game. That’s a bold move that inspires me to be bold. What kind of bold move do you want to make?

Toyota sponsored this post and the weekend it describes, including the use of a 2015 Toyota Camry for the events. All opinions about the car and the trip are entirely my own.

Filed Under: Family, Style

Work of Worth: Bringing Hope to the Hopeless

Posted on November 6, 2014 Written by Ashley Mills Hill Leave a Comment

God is big. So big.

It’s such a mystery that in His bigness, He cares about the details and loves each of us individually. He is our Jehovah Roi, the God who sees it all. Each little things in our lives is seen and pondered by our big, faithful God who loves us so dearly.

Last year I began stepping up my work with Freeset, a beautiful organization that serves the poor and abused in India by providing them employment with dignity. Freeset offers women trapped in the sex trade the opportunity to walk away from that life and walk into a life of freedom. It’s big work. God-sized work. Work which can only be accomplished one life at a time, one day at a time.

My friend Kristi led the US division of that organization faithfully. She imported goods from India made by the Freeset women, sold them in the US, and returned the money to India so that more women could be employed. That in itself was big work. That in itself was God-sized work. But God was up to something even bigger.

Work of Worth was established last year by Kristi, a friend, and a college student with a good idea. The basic idea is simple: buy goods from artisans in poverty, and sell them to eager customers in the US. “Social entrepreneurship” is the big title given to this business model. The Bible calls it being the Church. Bringing hope and sustenance to the hopeless and impoverished.

Besides having a good business model that addresses one of the issues Jesus talks about most, Work of Worth brings American consumers what they want: excellent goods at excellent prices. I’m happy to share a few of those items with you because I know you will love them and want to purchase a few things. My favorite items from Work of Worth have been curated here:

First up on the top right is the Sari Infinity Scarf. These are handmade in Bangladesh, the MOST impoverished country in the world, from old saris. The terrific thing about these scarves is the rich colors. Simply gorgeous. They are infinity scarves, but the fabric is light a gauzy, so they aren’t too bulky around the neck. These are great in every color!

The Leather Tote Bag is like butter! It is handmade in India by a gentleman who is a true artisan. The bags enable him to provide for his family, and they are daily rising out of poverty into a life of dignity. These bags are the real deal. They are made from genuine leather that is hand-stitched. The Work of Worth website has several styles available, including a few styles for men.

Working clockwise, the next item is the Decopalm Journal. This jade and gold journal is 30 pages, and it is made from recycled paper. These are handmade in India, and are available in several patters for only $15 each.

The Tribal Meets Regal necklace looks great on the site, but is even more stunning in person. They are made from hand carved and hand dyed wooden beads. And don’t miss the clasp. The details on this necklace are spot on! It is available in black, cobalt blue, and pink salmon. Each color is deep and fabulous.

The Summer Orchard Necklace is 36″ long, so it is GREAT to wear over sweaters and collared blouses. The colors are bold, and the beads are chunky, so it is truly a statement necklace, even though it is simple.

The Gypsy Relic Necklace is a terrific layering piece, but it is fabulous as a stand-alone necklace as well. It is made from a mix of glass and pearl beads, with an antique-style coin pendant. You have, no doubt, seen similar necklaces in boutique shops, but they certainly weren’t $20.00!!! This bargain necklace supports women in poverty in India.

And finally, a closing statement from Work of Worth: Work of Worth is an organization dedicated to utilizing the power of commerce to free the oppressed throughout the world. WoW exists primarily as an import and distribution company, for the purpose of connecting entrepreneurs and businesses in the developing world to the Western market. The result becomes people of worth who are transformed, sustainably employed, changing the poverty cycle, and freed from trafficking. Work of Worth is devoted to philanthropic entrepreneurship in impoverished regions of the developing world through importing manufactured goods from entrepreneurs in the developing world to markets in the United States. WoW supports and promotes entrepreneurs dedicated to treating their employees with dignity, paying a fair wage, and transforming lives. Entrepreneurial philanthropy is bold enough to bring fair wages to the villages and cities of the developing world. We invite you to see their product offerings and value their work so that they may sustain a future for their family’s and future generations.

Filed Under: Faith, Style

The Right Necklace for Necklines

Posted on October 18, 2014 Written by Ashley Mills Hill Leave a Comment

Statement necklaces aren’t going anywhere. I, for one, am happy about this trend because bold accessories are a terrific way to liven up a neutral outfit. But if you are like me, and sometimes wonder which type of necklace to wear, check out this chart to help you choose the right necklace for necklines.

Armed with the knowledge of how to best wear your accessories, you can pull together an outfit that accentuates your look in all the right ways. Feel free to pin this chart to Pinterest so you can refer back to it. Wear those statement necklaces well, friends!

Filed Under: Style

Byrom Builders’ Parade Home in The Preserve

Posted on June 18, 2014 Written by Ashley Mills Hill Leave a Comment

A few weeks back, the Greater Birmingham Association of Home Builders sponsored their annual Parade of Homes. I gave you a tour of the 2014 Ideal Home, but there were other homes on the parade that I knew you’d like to see as well. Byrom Builders, a local Birmingham company, had a lovely home in The Preserve, one of Hoover’s premier neighborhoods.

Homes in The Preserve are styled after classic American architecture. They are inviting and welcoming, and the Byrom home is no exception. When you walk in the front door, you are immediately enveloped in the open floor plan. The dining room is to your right, just waiting on a family dinner.

Adjoining the dining room is the light, bright kitchen.

With white cabinetry, marble countertops, and top of the line appliances, this kitchen is not only functional for a chef, but the looks is timeless and classic.

There is an amazing bar space that provides a hostess everything she needs for entertaining. The stone wall was stunning, as were the concrete countertops.

And it opens directly onto the family room. The family room is a large, open space with plenty of room for the family to gather.

Byrom paid very close attention to detail in this home.

There is a short hallway connecting the den to the master bedroom, which is the perfect space for a small chest and gorgeous painting.

The master suite was a dream!

The millwork could not have been more gorgeous!

But the crowning glory of the master suite was the closet. And by closet, I do mean a closet big enough to be a separate room. I die! Do you die?

There were other gorgeous bedrooms…

And other gorgeous bathrooms…

There was a small office, just perfect for a busy mom to keep her things straight.

But if this home were the Hill Hangout, the space we would use most is this fabulous outdoor room. It was by far, the best outdoor space we saw on the entire Parade of Homes.

It was large and provided space for a sitting area.

There was also an outdoor kitchen and dining area.

Along with a massive stone fireplace to keep everyone warm on cool nights.

Again, this space had exquisite attention to detail!

I hope you enjoyed touring this home in The Preserve. The guys at Byrom did a fabulous job. I know there are lots of details that you want to keep in mind as you are making your own home a beautiful place of peace and rest for your family.

Filed Under: Style

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