Wherever you go, go with all your heart.

Home edition-Part 2!!

I know in my last post I said I felt everything was starting to come together- but now I really REALLY feel like it is. There have been so many new fabulous editions.

I will start in the bedroom again! I really wanted mint with coral accents. I was able, after some time, to find the perfect mint bed set that I now love. And I wanted coral curtains to go with it. It took me so long to find any at all and then I finally came across these from Anthropologie:

 

Gorgeous right? Too bad they were $128. Way out of my budget. But then I decided I would try to dye some myself. So I got some super cheap (and energy efficient) tan curtains and used the Red Tulip dye because it seemed like the perfect coral shade to me. I bought 3 of the liquid bottles to start out thinking I would use 1 ½ for each based on their weight directions. Of course I started in the kitchen sink and quickly realized that my new sink and new sink stopper do not quite work right and it drains! So there went an entire bottle and a ½ of dye! After that I moved to the bathroom (red dye- white sink, not my best idea yet) and everything seemed to work fine after that. I used the other 1 ½ bottles thinking I could just go buy more for the second curtain. THEN- when I went to buy more for the second one, they were completely out! They also informed me that the color I was using had been discontinued! But after raking all the craft stores in Raleigh I finally found some more (I also got smart and got a 5 gallon paint bucket to use outside instead of my pretty white bathroom). It was harder than I thought to match the colors and they are a little off still but I am happy with how they turned out!

 

I also like how you can see the drips on them. This was not something I intended on originally but really like it. I actually ended up using the back side of them too, which was white and dyed more vibrant- so I just loop-stitched the top down so you could not see the tan on the top. I also like that now when the light shines through them in the morning (instead of waking me up at 7 am) it puts a pink tint all over my room. Now I am really living through rose-colored lenses! J

The second amazing addition to the bedroom is my new headboard. I am so OBSESSED with this I cannot even explain it to you- but I must admit almost all the credit goes to my new Handy Mann in my life! I told him exactly what I wanted and he made my dreams come true!

 

ISN’T IT BEAUTIFUL?!! Handy Mann was able to scavenge up some old barn wood for me. He treated it to get rid of all the little buggies- which I was honestly kind of freaked out about being that it was going to be over my head! He then used thin wood to screw them all together on the back. I painted “love” on it in the perfect paint color to match my new curtains- and Voila! Beauty! I love it so much! The perfect finishing touch!

Finally I just wanted to show ya’ll a few little moments in my house that I really love.

 

These moose hangers I actually found in the same antique store that I saw my first inspirational dresser that started this whole journey! The heart says “Wherever you go, go with all your heart!”

 

The post cards behind the “Life, Laugh, Love” are from my travels all over the world. For a long time I had them just in a shopping bag in my closet not knowing what to do with them. I love the way I am able to display them here for everyone to see! I also love all the colors it brings!

That is all for now! I will update more as it comes. I will also update you on my new lifestyle!! I have challenged myself to lose 24 pounds for my 24^th birthday! I am almost done with week two on the journey and still holding strong. More to come on that! All sorts of changes going on J

 

Love always,

Elle

Home sweet Heart

I know I have not posted in SO LONG. And I feel like so much has happened since I last did! I went to Florida as I talked about and celebrated the 7^th of July. I got to see all my girls and family and we had ourselves a good ole time! (the ‘Merica shorts were a hit!)

But since then I have moved into my new apartment!! I must admit I am mildly obsessed, and extremely happy with how it is coming along. I feel like I still have a ton to do, but I am going to give ya’ll a sneak peak on what is in the works so far!

I’ll start in the bedroom- where the magic happens! Back in January when I was visiting Florida, I saw this antique French provincial refurbished white dresser in an antique store in Fernandina Beach. I immediately feel in love. And it inspired what I wanted my whole room to be (mint, lime & coral as an accent color- mix between French country and beach house feel). However the price tag was $399 and I just couldn’t swing it at the time. I spent the next seven months looking for anything similar and kicking myself for not finding a way to get it when I saw it. I literally spent day and night on craigslist, scouring antique/thrift stores, online, etc. Nothing! Then somehow the heavens opened up and I found an old French provincial dresser on craigslist in my home town in Florida. It was kind of beat up and brown wood. It was furniture tenants left inside an apartment after they moved out and the landlord was selling it- CHEAP! Thankfully, my beloved father went and picked it up sanded it down (5 hours he said) and the sprayed it white. His neighbor just randomly happened to set up a spray booth at his house this same week. It was true SERENDIPITY! So in the end craiglist dresser (and a matching night-stand, which was a great add!!) = $65, spray job = $100: total $165. AMAZING! Glad I waited on it- and now it has such a better background story than something I just bought from a stranger. Here is the finished product, OBSESSSSED!

I am determined to keep my room simple and clean instead of my usual crazy crap everywhere approach. I am really loving it. I WILL have a Big Girl apartment by the time this is over. I swear!

One of my other favorites is this:

The new man in my life gave me this old Grey Goose box when he was moving out of his apartment. He was going to trash it, but I was convinced it could find something great for its second life. And I love it! I originally had all the items placed by themselves on the shelf and it just seemed to swallow them up. I love how I was able to make them their own little vignette and really give it some focus. The picture frame inside is a hand-made card from Ten Thousands Villages (FAIR TRADE!) I framed and matted with construction paper.

My next gem is something I just did today! Yet again it was inspired by seeing something in a store I could not afford. I really wanted a mirrored tray, because I opted for two ottomans instead of a coffee table and still wanted something hard I could eat off of when I am feeling lazy. However all the trays I could find in the stores were $40-50! Insane! So I went and bought a mirror from a craft store ($10.99), painted it white with just regular paint and then hot-glued a set of drawer pullers on the sides ($8.99).

Ta-da!! I love it so much. And I loved that I did not waste so much money on something that took me less than an hour to do.

I have so many more pictures and fun things to share, but I think for now I am just going to leave you hanging on for more! I will not wait a month before I update this time I promise!

My new Big Girl apartment, for my new Big Girl self is finally coming together! This is the first time I have ever lived completely on my own and am able to literally do whatever I want to the place. It is so much fun! I never thought I would be so excited about decorating, and running to the “home” department of stores instead of the shoe department. Guess I really am growing up…

Love always,

Elle

P.S. Don’t worry… I’ll never really be a grown up!

A regular Ol' Betsy Ross

So because I am moving I have been pinning like a maniac. And because I have been pinning like a maniac, I have found tons of other things to take up my time other than moving. Such as clothing!

Recently, about a month ago, I realized that all but two pairs of my jeans had holes in them. Most of these holes being in inappropriate places, and were deemed un-wearable (which I am now using for another new project I will update with on here later when I am finished) but some salvageable. In the end I got 5 new pairs of jean shorts. While a southern girl like me loves her jean shorts, I decided this was somewhat of an excess, and chose to have some fun with them!

First I went and got some lace and just simply hand-stitched the lace onto the sides on the shorts where they had started splitting. This was so easy, took 5 minutes, and completely changes the look.

Then I decided I wanted some America shorts. I had seen many online and in stores, but all seemed very expensive to me. I went to three different fabric stores trying unsuccessfully to find fabric with the American flag printed on it. In the end, I just got an American flag. I felt like the worse American ever cutting up the American flag- but it is all in the name of fashion! And I am hell bent to use every part of it for something useful.

So I started just by simply cutting the pieces out, leaving about an inch around the perimeter to have a finished edge. I then folded back the edge and began hand-stitching it. For the most part I used the natural edge of the shorts and just followed it. I chose to hand stitch it, which I would recommend for most people useless you are extremely thrifty with a machine, due to the tight spaces, especially on the inseam. I also used white thread, because I liked how it looked with the exposed stitching, but that is personal preference.

A mistake I made was not closing the fly when sewing it, which I realized later made the fabric pull so the zipper was exposed. Thankfully because I had tucked under about an inch I had some room and it was easily fixable. I would definitely recommend leaving some space, so the fabric almost bunches a little bit in the middle because when you put them on it definitely flattens out.

But here is the finished product! I am in love! Happy 4^th ya’ll!

Love always,

Elle

Flight risk, with a fear of falling

Some things have changed since I last updated. I must confess I have been hiding something from all my readers. I am currently monogamously dating someone new. It has been going on for about a month and a half so far, but I did not want to put anything on here at first because I was still so unsure about everything. Part of me still is. It is slightly terrifying. I do not want to get too excited about anything, or start expecting things from someone. I don’t want to let myself fall.

…But sometimes I just can’t help it. I am destined to be a hopeless romantic forever, no matter how many times I learn love isn’t real. Or at least not lasting. Be as it may, at least for now, I will not have any crazy and exciting single-girl-in-a-big-city stories. But based on my short experience as one- it really wasn’t that much fun. At least not for me. I have always leaned on the side of relationships. I never know how it happens, but it always does to me. Even when I do not want one. I am still trying to figure out if that is a good or a bad thing.

So for now, I am determined to not get excited, not plan, not expect. Go day by day and not take it for granted that he will still like me tomorrow. Just see what happens, and try not to analyze myself into a hole like I love to do so much. I think maybe my view of how a relationship should be up to this point has been completely skewed and irrational. Maybe this new approach is how normal people act in a relationship? Is that how they don’t get hurt? Or does everyone else just suffer silently? Either way, there has got to be something more in this department of life than what I have experienced so far. But the only thing I can change is my way of thinking, so that’s what I am going to do. I’ll let you know how that works out for me… haha.

In other news, I got an intern! My boss is actually entrusting me to have an intern of my very own for 8 weeks. I couldn’t believe it when I was told. But it is such an honor to be chosen as the mentor, being that I am the last hired in the store! So far he has been working with me for about 2 weeks. I must admit sometimes it is fun having a shadow. For a job where I am incessantly around tons of people 9 hours straight, I never realized how lonely it actually is. I just hope that I can give him everything he needs.

I feel like I have been non-stop traveling lately. The Charlotte trip was so much fun! One of the best things I have done since I moved up here by far. My favorite part was doing the stand-up paddle boards. We paddled out down this river and just laid in the sun on the boards for over an hour. It was beautiful and perfect. Something I will always remember.

Last weekend I went down to Fayetteville, North Carolina, which was definitely an experience. And then in a few days I will be going up to Maryland to visit the young man mentioned above. And in a few weeks I get to go back to the beautiful Florida beaches! Even though this is my first summer not having the entire summer off as a student, it is still turning out to be pretty decent.

The dictionary defines love as this:

Love noun, verb, loved, lov·ing. noun

1.       a profoundly tender, passionate affection for another person.

There is nothing defining love as faithful, trusting or everlasting. Maybe I really have had it wrong this whole time…

Love always,

Elle

Strawberry & Brownie Cups!

I found an idea online and modified it a little bit for myself. I loved it so much (and so did all of my co-workers) I just felt the need to share. Especially since it is so darn easy! I just followed the instructions on the boxes and it really is as easy as that!

I got regular brownie mix and strawberry cake mix. Following the generic mixing instructions, I poured the brownie mix on the bottom of the tray, filling about 1/3 of it, then layered the strawberry cake mix over it. I baked it for 17 minutes and BAM! Amazingness. I used cream cheese icing to top it off.

For Valentine's Day I used the same recipe, but made them in my heart-shaped cupcake pans and it turned out super cute. But no matter what your variation is, it definitely makes a unique and devilishly delicious treat!


Love always,

Elle

"There are far, far better things ahead than any we leave behind" -C.S. Lewis

So world it has been a while. My last post was very emotion filled. After re-reading it now almost two months later, I wanted to take it down- because I am not that angry anymore, or really care at all honestly. But I decided to leave it, because at that moment that is exactly how I felt, and I don’t regret it, and I won’t apologize for it. It is exactly what I needed to do. After all that’s what this whole thing is about right?

As I talked about last time, I have really been having a ton of fun lately and been opened up to so many new things. Next weekend I am traveling to Charlotte to go white water rafting for the first time ever! Knocking one thing off of my bucket list at a time! I am going here: usnwc.org! There are so many amazing activities; I can barely contain my excitement! Going to Charlotte also means I get to go to Ikea which is a whole other story! Eek!

I had another vacation (I officially have the best job ever, incessantly having vacations) and went back to Florida. It was so much fun! I spent every day on the beach and got a lot of well-needed family time. It was a milestone time for many in my family including a graduation and wedding- all the good reasons families get together, instead of the bad! It also ended with me in a very long car ride with my family, which actually, surprisingly, ended up being a lot of fun! I got to see my ‘Noles play for the first time all year, and got to spend some time with my #1 girl! It was great.

In other news, I was invited to be a part of a “fast-track” program at work. They essentially selected a small group of people out of all of North and South Carolina to be a part of the group and work specifically on moving them along as fast as possible. I felt very honored to be invited. We have already had one meeting where I had to go to Winston-Salem, about 2 hours away, and we will continue to meet on occasion. So much has been happening at work lately, and it makes me extremely excited for the future.

For instance today, the entire district team came into our store. Every time they come it makes me feel one step closer to my goals and dreams, just getting their feedback and listening to how they see my progress. I am really starting to feel settled into my new assignment and that my team is beginning to click and really get it!

I also just signed a lease for my new apartment. This is my new recent obsession. It is funny though how life really comes full circle. I ended up signing a lease for a place I became obsessed with before I even moved to Raleigh, but could not afford living in at the time. Now, over a year later, and after looking at millions of different places- it is exactly where I ended up! I cannot wait, and I also cannot help but think it is fate! All I am saying, is Ikea better watch out next weekend.

My life has changed so much in the past 3 months is it insane. But I am in a happy place. I am in a better and bigger place. Before I said that I would have never imagined everything happening the way it did- but now I can’t see it any other way. Everything really does happen for a reason, and I am by far much better for it. It is just another chapter in my metamorphosis into a Big Girl. And I can honestly say I am nothing but excited to see what the next chapter brings!

I do not think the book will ever end. I do not think I will ever truly be a Big Girl. I will be ever changing, ever growing, ever learning, and that is just the way I want it.

Love always,

Elle

Tough times don't last, but tough people do. -Bobby Bowden

Well world, a lot has happened since I last posted. I might as well just dive right into it.

Camo man and I broke up about a month ago- a few days after my last post. That is why I have not posted anything- I felt so embarrassed and ashamed and did not want to talk about it. But I finally feel like I am at the point where I can do so. Essentially, a long story short, it turns out he had been cheating on me almost the entire time since I moved up to Raleigh. I just do not understand how people can go through their lives with blatant disregard for anyone else in the world. It is insane to me. I have spent many many a nights the past 5 weeks crying myself to sleep. And while I am sure there will be more to come, I am beginning to see some light at the end of the tunnel. While there are still so many other emotions wrapped into it (love, hate, hurt, etc.) part of me almost feels free. It has forced me to actually get out and enjoy life in the NOW. Not sitting at home waiting for my boyfriend to get off work so we can skype- little did I know while I was sitting at home waiting on him all night he was off fucking other women and lying to me about having to stay late at work. I had started growing suspicious of this, his lies slowly began adding up less and less, then basically it all came to a head one night when he was “working late” again and I called his cell phone and a GIRL answered it, giggling and teasing me. Guess the jokes on me… how funny. I think what hurt the most was just his indifference to the whole thing. Not only did he completely rip my heart out- he did not even care that he did. He still does not care. And I know that he is just going on living his happy little life, while I am up here completely shattered. And I hate him for it. So he can go back to being a drug-dealing, college flunk-out, like he was when I met him. And I will go on being awesome. Have fun losing all of your scholarships, dropping out of college and probably ending up in prison where you belong. I will move on, and be enormously successful.

So in my last post I talked about how I was moving into my beautiful perfect townhouse- well he screwed me over there too. Since he was planning on moving up here and we were supposed to live there together. So I am completely screwed over in that aspect. But thankfully I have been able to find some other places I think are decent and affordable on my now single person income. I have it narrowed down to my top 3 so far, and will be moving in July.

In my last post I also talked about my upcoming trip to Florida. Another way he screwed me over, since all of this happened just days before I was going down there and left me with nowhere to stay. But my Pretty Bitches saved the day! Instead of doing all the things I had planned before, with him, my girls ended up finding us a camp site and we went camping for a few days! So we spent the week on the beach and in the woods- single handedly my two favorite things to do in the world! It ended up being a lot of fun. Someone could have made an awesome comedy out of the 3 off us trying to camp though- between trying to cook, make a fire and pitch a tent.

But all of this feels like it happened so long ago. When I first got back, it was really hard just trying to make it through each day. But so much has happened since then. For instance, I filed my taxes for the first time ever. I also had my first review ever, and got my first raise ever! Also, my boss is going to do a one-on-one mentorship with me. During my review she basically told me she wants to get me promoted as quickly as possible and is going to work on side projects with me to get my name out there. I am really excited and pumped to have a real goal to work towards!

And of course I have been coping in the best way I know how- going out as much as possible. As I said earlier, in a sense it has freed me. I have met more people and done more things in the past month than I had the entire six months prior living here. I went and saw a Michael Jackson tribute band which was AMAZING. Then this past weekend I went out to this indie show The Naked and Famous in this back alley little venue out in Chapel Hill that made me feel like I was in high school all over again. And on the way back we played cash cab with the cab driver, except I was the one asking the questions! Haha.

And then of course, I have been dating. Dating is so much different as a big girl. It’s no longer these going to “hang out” at a tailgate party or “do you wanna chill?” crap that guys always did in college because they do not have the balls to take a real lady out on a real date. It is like real life dates with real life adults. And that is something I am glad I am getting to experience. It is hard for me to explain why it is so different, but it just is. And it just adds to me feeling like a little yuppie, going out to these downtown bars and having a cocktail after work. HA!

So much has happened, and I have been on every notch of the emotion scale in the past month, it is hard for me to sit here and pinpoint the highlights in some concise and witty form for you to read. I knew I was making a decision to change my life when I decided to move here. I knew lots would change, things would be different, and there would be a lot of growing up and new experiences. However, I did not think this was going to happen in any way shape or form.

“Don't worry about the future. Or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubble gum. The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind, the kind that blindside you at 4 pm on some idle Tuesday.”

It is hard for me to say I am better because of it, but if not better, I am bigger. I am a bigger person, I am bigger than the situation, I am bigger than being defeated. I am a Big Girl.


Love always,

Elle