Me, the Decorator

I've spent a ridiculous and truly embarrassing amount of time on these here internets the last few weeks.  Normally I like to somewhat budget my time online and make sure to take in other daily pleasures, but with the purchase of our new home almost complete, I just can't help myself.  Pinterest has been a godsend (in the home decor and wedding categories), and I think I've finally developed a sense of style in terms of interior decorating.  I hail from a home of neutrals, large furniture, and an abundance of wood.  I believe I'll always have this touch of traditional in my home, but I hope to spice it up, air it out, and make it fun, youthful, and something we'll look back on and wonder what the heck we were thinking.

Here are a few shots that have really been inspiring me lately:

A Home - Part 1

If you had asked me a couple years ago where I thought I'd be by twenty-two, my answer would have been far from the eventual outcome.  I never would have thought I'd be planning my wedding.  I didn't think I'd have this sort of job (and truly, though I don't mind it, I don't think this job is very me at all).  I didn't think I'd be living in this odd little town.  I didn't think I would own a car, let alone a home.

We had all these plans to move into a new apartment.  A tiny little basement thing, but good enough for us.  And then, well.  Gosh.  An opportunity came up and we decided to jump.  We're jumping in headfirst.  We seem to find ourselves in the midst of purchasing a condo, instead.  It's a scary process, this whole thing.  I pray that we're ready for this.  I pray that when it's time to move on to something bigger, we'll be able to.  But mostly, I'm thankful.  Truly, I'm ecstatic.  It's not where I thought I'd be, but as time passes I discover that it's exactly where I want to be.  Where I should be.  It feels like the right fit.  Though I yearn for certain aspects of my past, I'm moving forward.  I'd give anything to be near my old friends, my best friends, but moving across the country and starting a new life seems to be pushing us towards more independence, and all I crave is more.


I don't think I'm mature.  Not at all, really.  But I do know when I need to make a bold decision, and I know when to truly take my parents' advice.  I think, I pray, that we are making a wonderful life choice.  I cannot wait to make memories with him in our first true home together.  I can't wait to cook meals with him in our very own kitchen.  To stay up late, just watching tv in our very own living room.  These things, so normal and average, are all I want right now.  We even teeter on the notion of whether or not that second bedroom could ever become a nursery (crazy, right?).  But is it?  At the rate we're going, it sometimes doesn't seem like such a wild idea.  Maybe we'll be ready sooner than we thought.  Or maybe a furry, four-legged friend will dull that craving until we're in something bigger.


We still have a couple more weeks until we can bunker down and make this place our own.  While we're taking this time to prepare for our big leap, we also know that it's our final stretch before rising to a whole new level of reality.  From adult-ish to adult.  Then again, we're both children at heart.  


Adult-ish it is.

Over The Weekend

Our weekend was of the lazy variety.  Honey spent the majority of it studying, so I busied myself with small hobbies.  A week from today the big exam will be over, and we'll have ourselves a couple little social lives again.  

But in the meantime, I can't say I've been complaining about all the time spent in sweats, and that the most exciting thing we did all weekend was go to church.  I think downtime is good for the soul.  It was nice, just staying in, enjoying each other's company for a few days.  Lord knows, life will pick up again before we know it.

 

{Essie in Fiji}

Love this look with an infinity scarf.

Because he was so good in church.

Hope your weekend was equally refreshing!  And may the week take it easy on us all!

Summer Styles

Just when we thought summer was due to arrive at any moment, we were hit with one more large dumping of the white stuff.  For the most part, this western weather has been our friend and totally showed up the eastern side.  Until today.  I refused to go outside.  I did my best to not even look out the window.  Instead, I busied myself with pinterest, a good book, delightful thoughts of the summer that has to inevitably come, and helping Honey study for the big, bad ABSA coming up.  Also, this all resulted in us having a pizza for supper.  Because the grocery store just was not happening today.  Some retail therapy has also gotten the best of me lately, as I simply cannot stop gushing over some killer summer styles that I'm dying to try out.

Check out some of my top summer 2012 looks!

Bold trousers (madewell, $108)

The trousers are really doin' it for me lately.  From brights to floral, I cannot wait to combine a pair with some casual oxfords.

Pattern play (Threadsense, top $36, shorts $36)

Pattern play is all the rage in my books.  The idea of pairing unexpected pieces already in my closet is exciting and easy on the wallet!

Head scarf (Nordstrom, $104.68)

The scarves have been piling up in my closet for a few years now, and I'm thrilled to start wearing them in a new way.  Though a little pricey for me, this one from Nordstrom is a gem.  Bring on the bold colours and funky prints!

Bib collar (Ruche, $24.99)

The perfect touch for a day when I'm in the mood for something delicate and preppy.

High-heeled Oxfords (Nordstrom, $832.25)

Obviously, these are way over my budget, but the concept makes me swoon.  I'm loving the unique direction that oxfords are taking lately, and am hoping I can find something equally cute yet far more affordable.

Neon gladiators (Madewell, $128)

Neon is popping up all over the place, and these gladiators are freakin' killing it.  Trousers, maxi skirt, sundress.. I'd wear em with everything.

Here's hoping this retail therapy hits the highway real soon.

Well, maybe.

Vacay

So, I don't know.  The i-just-got-back-from-vacation-and-im-going-to-do-a-post-with-10000-pics thing kinda weirds me out.  I'm a minimalist. (err?)  But I DO have some shots that I'm maximally pleased with from our vacay in the sun.  So.

This time away was more necessary than I realized.  After a day or so, I decided that we are way more stressed than we need to be.  We could take a lesson from those Cubans.  Sure, they may take a while to seat you.  Sure, they may put ice in your wine.  But they know how to be carefree.  That felt nice for a week.  All worries were put to rest.

Until our last day, that is.  When I got sick.

Aaaaand we won't get into how miserable that trip home was.

But we had a fabulous time and met some truly beautiful people.  And how lucky are we to be able to do this?

Easter may have been spent in bed this year, but there was no shortage of blessings to be grateful for.

The Dinos

A few weeks ago we took a little trip.  First, we drove 5 hours to the nearest civilization from where we currently live.  We did a little shopping because this place also happens to be sort of a major city with some pretty sweet shopping.  Then, we drove 4ish (I know!) more hours to this itty bitty farm town that also just happens to have one of the world's largest dinosaur museums.  BAM.  Where does a little farm town get off having such wicked tourism?  The coolest thing my little hometown had was a river.  Really.

So.  Was it worth 9 hours there and back?  Yeah, it was.  I'm not really a huge history buff, but Honey is and he had me WAY excited to see these dinos.  Now, I'll tell you.  They did not disappoint.  But guys, when you watch movies like say, oh I don't know, Jurassic Park? Please remind yourself that this is a movie.  They are not were not ever that big.  I mean, they're big.  

But not THAT big, okay?

A pigeon!  How cool is this pigeon!  He wasn't my favourite.. but okay he was probably my third favourite.

The heck.

I still can't believe some of these things were real.  I mean, honestly.  What is this.  

What are you?!

 Okay, fine.  The long-neck kind of disappointed me.

The Land Before Time gives children false hope.

You weigh how much?

 The arms!  Look how little those arms are!  I would have died to compare arm lengths with him.

 A mammoth? What?! 

AMAZEBALLS!

Of all the cool creatures, the mammoth was absolutely and most definitely my favourite.

Dinos, you are way cool.

& Here We Find Ourselves

Here we are, on this Monday evening in March.  A Monday not unlike a few others.  The belly is full, the dishes are clean and the lunches are packed.  Minus the fact that our apartment is in shambles, as we prepare for our little move just a block over.  It seems as though our things have found their way out of their respective places, yet they haven't quite made it to a box yet.  We're working on it.  

And I have to say how adult-like this all feels to me.  I like this little life we're creating together.  I like that with each little move, it feels like we're one step closer.  One step closer to there.  One step closer to it?  I'm not entirely certain.  But one day we'll get there, and maybe when we do we'll look back on these days we spent trying so hard, and we'll wonder what we tried so hard for.  Because in the grand scheme of things, in my deepest and most sincere places I know that we're there.  And that we have all we'll ever need.  What more could I truly want?  In these deep and sincere places, how could I dare ask for anything more?  Well, except for maybe a babe one day.  I would like to have one of those.  But, yes.  We are blessed.

Tomorrow, ladies and gents, is the first day of Spring.  But you all knew that anyway.

And, if you don't mind, can we just get one great big Hallelujah for spring!

Hip Hip!  We're so glad you're here!

I've already begun to put some mileage on my rain boots, and though I do love summer, dang it - I just don't get to wear those rain boots enough.

In Which We've Been Laid Up

The last couple days have been spent mostly in bed, a little bit on the couch, and hardly at all at work or in doing other productive things.  I gots a bad back, ya see.  I've never really experienced actual back pain before.  Like the kind where you can't accomplish your regular daily activities, and it leaves you kinda crippled and making noises to your Honey that sound like this:  "Uuuuggghghhhhhhaaaaaa". It's sorta for the birds, this back pain thing.  But sometimes these Honeys are good to have around during such dreadful times.  They can do things like run your cold pack to and from the freezer every 20 minutes, order you take-out, and mean to throw the towels into the washer all day even though they eventually forget.  I'm pretty thankful though, for this guy.  He stands by me when I spend the whole night kicking and thrashing because my muscles are retaliating against some 40 hours spent in bed.. even when he has to get up for work at 4am. {Bless you.  Really, bless you.}

But whether I like it or not, I need to be better for these next two days.  I'm heading out on a little roadie with my parents in search of something really special.  If all goes well, it'll be a monumental weekend and the experience I've been dreaming of since I was a little girl.  Folks, I'm shopping for my wedding dress.  I'm shopping for my wedding dress!  It's a surreal time for my mom and I, and I can't wait to fill you in on how it goes!