DIY bliss!

What's a girl to do when she wants her apartment to feel like home but is living life on a --- we'll just say less than pottery barn -- budget? DIY decorating my friends.

Not only is DIY decorating adorable and wallet friendly, but I love the ability to have everything in your home be one of a kind and perfectly tailored to your taste!

While browsing around for ideas and inspiration on pinterest, I came across these two lovely ideas for over the bed art and decided to combine them to give my dreadful white walls a little love.

The first, from ballard designs for $169.00

And the second from DIY Chic Home

When I was still living in Pennsylvania and painted my room a dreamy shade of grey, I spray painted everything in my possession white

 

But when I found out a week later that I would be moving to Nashville, I was left with empty white frames and no idea what to do with them. 

So after spending an indulging amount of time in Hobby Lobby (the south has been holding out from the north with this store... think about the sheer wonder that would be if Home Goods and A.C. Moore had a child, on steroids) and I found myself some cute scrapbook paper pages, for fifty cents a piece. 

I attached them to the back of the frames in about three minutes and then spread the frames out on my floor and tested every possible hanging combination.

 

Once I eventually picked one, I popped a few nails in the wall and voila! 

They add a small touch of color and most importantly give me a sense of feeling like this place is my home. And because I already had the frames and nails, it only cost me $3! I'd love to keep adding to this so the frames can be more condensed and the look as a whole will be bigger -- so I'm going to be on the hunt for cheap frames of different shapes and sizes every time I leave the house now. And if I get around to painting my walls or buying a new comforter that doesn't go along with the color scheme, switching out the backs of these frames is as easy as changing a pillow case.

Lets face it, DIY decorating is a win for everyone! What DIY project are you most proud of?

childhood dreams, coming true.

I will proudly tell the world that I love Britney Spears. I have since the third grade when I felt like she understood my life, dancing around in that catholic school uniform. Since then, my musical tastes have shifted, but I've always loved Brit Brit. Tride and true.

However, while I have loved her since 1998, spending the amount she charges to see her concerts never something I desired to do. Turning her up when she comes on the radio and vehemently defending her when people claim Christina is better is about as far as my loyalty went.

Then, I came across an opportunity to have amazing seats for her concert in Nashville for....18 dollars! I'll see just about anybody for $18, so the fact that it was my childhood idol was the cherry on top. I expected her to put on a good show and to have a fun time singing and dancing along to tunes that defined my elementary, middle school, junior high, high school and even college years. But, I didn't expect her to be as good as she was. She can put on a show, entertain a crowd and get thousands of people singing just as well as she's always been able to. Yes, Britney Spears has still got it.

It was one of the best concerts I've ever been to and so much fun to sing along to the oldies with all the 20 and 30 somethings in the crowd while the 15-year-olds looked at each other mouthing 'do you know this one.... me either.' come on, who doesn't know toxic and stronger?

So cheers to you Britney Spears, and your music that's kept me dancing like a fool since 1998. As long as you keep singing, I'll keep turning you up on the radio.

We had great seats, she was so close!

 

light up outfits, duh.

suspended with huge angel wings while fireworks go off behind her -- why not?

and just for the heck of it, 

let yourself take a trip down memory lane, you know you want to

noooo!

morning storms

Nashville weather has been a funny and fickle thing, in my two weeks here it's been filled with morning thunderstorms and spouts of rain downpours. Around noon, the skies clear and the day is (and remains) sunny as can be. Monday through Friday, it makes me want to curl up and go back to bed. But on the weekends, I love this weather. Instead of staying under my covers I want to get a cup of coffee and sit on my porch. Not even my porch - on the porch of a one hundred year old house, the kinds with the big shutters and wrap around porches - and drink coffee, listen to the morning rain and my favorite playlist.

Because of these lovely mornings, I can sit in my half-moved-into, not-really-feeling-like-home-yet apartment and feel comfortable, cozy and completely home. And that feeling of being 'home,' well, that's a very special thing.

Look at these pretty southern porches, couldn't you just sit on them all day long?

yes, please.

 

my favorite, I want to photoshop myself on that porch swing.

I always love Adele, but watching the rain and listening to this song this morning feels like it's the perfect fit. Her jazzy sound sooths my soul down to the core. 

Happy Sunday morning everyone. I hope you all have something that makes your weekend mornings one of your favorite parts of your week.

when in Rome

I've always 'liked' country, but I've never loved  it. However, since living in Nashville, listening to country music just feels natural when I drive around, and it's really growing on me. So in honor of this new place and it's sweet tea country charm, here's a little break from my normal genre and my favorite country tunes this past week. enjoy dear friends

of course, I have to include the song that should be awarded 

"most quoted on facebook and twitter"

...but hey, when it's good it's good. 

I'm here, I'm moved in, I'm a... grown up?

I'm in Nashville! 

I officially moved in on Monday. After spending the weekend watching my sister graduate and having an awesome party with all of our family and friends, it was one of the hardest things I've ever done to get up Sunday morning and get in the car to move. I pulled out of my driveway with tears streaming down my face that lasted until Baltimore. I will miss beautiful Pennsylvania and home-y Chester County so much, but now that I'm here, a few days into what I think will be a great job and am starting to learn my way around, I can't help but feel that this change is natural and good.

The reason I moved here was for my job, so thankfully it's one that I think I'll really like. The people I work with seem great and I'm excited to get to learn how to do my job and do it well. I'm looking forward to the day when all of a sudden I realize "wait, I know how to do this..."

Nashville itself still remains a bit of a mystery to me. I've seen it a lot because of my lost adventures, that is -- trying to go to a coffee shop and taking the wrong road and going downtown; trying to find a target and taking the wrong road and going downtown; looking for the farmer's market and taking a wrong road and going downtown... and lastly, trying to find my office and taking a wrong road and going downtown.Like with my job, I'm looking forward to getting to the point where I can say "I know this."

Familiarity is something I didn't realize I took for granted. It's a hard thing when you don't know where you are.

It's also weird not knowing all the fun quirks and good spots around town. Both in Chester County and in State College, I knew where the best place to get coffee was, what hours I should avoid going to Irving's bagels and the best spot in town to get breakfast. My boss has mentioned lots of fun places to go, and all the while I keep thinking "ahhhhhhh! I want to know about all of this stuff!" There's lots of local dives I want to explore. I love you 'bucks and dunkin, but this whole 'chain' thing doesn't always fit my mood.

The good news? I'm here for a while baby. And I've got all the time I need to explore this place inside and out.

So far I can only get 3 places without directions 1. my office 2. starbucks 3. target. But really, where else would I ever need to go besides my beloved bucks and target

Tomorrow I'm checking out the Nashville Farmer's Market. I tried to do it Thursday afternoon and failed miserably. I thought I was almost there and I realized I was almost at my apartment -- they're about 20 minutes away from each other. At least I'm consistent.

I'll leave you with the top 5 things I've learned about relocating so far. And when you're done reading them, sit on your porch, watch the fireflys and enjoy the last fleeting days of June.

1. Virginia is a huge state.

You admire the beautiful rolling hills, pretty mountains, then 6 hours later you're cursing that your still driving through that freaking state

2. No reservations? That'll be an extra $75-100

It's sounds adventerous to not make reservations at a hotel and just drive till you can't then pull over and get a room, but as was learned in Knoxville, TN, that'll cost you top dollar for the room. 

3. McDonald's really is the biggest chain ever

No explantion. One about every 2-4 exits for 800 miles. 

4. In most states but PA, there is a carpool lane

And it's fun to stare judgingly at those driving in it by themselves

5. Southern Interstates are clean and smooth

No gaping potholes every mile and running over fast food bags is something my car is excited about

& finally, 
This song was made for this post.

a time to relax

This past week has been one of the most emotional and overwhelming weeks I've ever experienced. I said goodbye to my best friends, moved out of my college place, went to nashville for a grueling apartment search and am on the cusp of frantically packing and tying up loose ends (a-la buying a car).

And when those weeks come around from time to time, as they always do, it's a good thing to know what puts you in your 'happy place.' The things that help you let down your hair or put up your feet.

Mine usually involve a cup of coffee or a glass of wine paired with a good playlist or a favorite movie on tv.

Tonight I'm listening to this, her music never fails to calm me down and allow me to relax.

Our lives are too short to spend them stressed out, so finding time to hide away from the world and relax is the best medicine for any overwhelmed head or heart, whether it's 15 minutes before you go to sleep, while you drink your morning cup of joe or spending 5 minutes away from your desk. 

What makes you relax?