{ Life Lately}

I started getting my apartment gussied up for Christmas, and it feels wonderful. There's nothing like a home for the holidays.

(next time I'll take a picture with my real camera so it's better quality. Iphones are just too dang convenient)

I'm terribly sorry for my silence here on the blogster lately. Life is officially crazy as I prepare for finals, write papers, work, and get ready for a benefit that I've been organizing this quarter (more on that in another post) that will finally be going up this Friday. In the midst of the craziness, I'm finding it calming to come home, light a candle, and listen to some Christmas tunes.

I hope you are all enjoying the holiday season so far. lovelovelove.

-C

{ Thanks }

I've always dreamed of hosting Thanksgiving. 

One day, I will. Until then, I will just drool over pictures and dream. The gold flatware and color palette in the first photo makes me all giddy, and I love the sweet mismatched chairs and pumpkins and gourds of the latter. It would be nice to host dinner outside if you're lucky to be somewhere warm enough. Though I'm pretty sure all of the warm places won't have lovely color changed leaves like they do in that photo.

I'm not going home for Thanksgiving this year, and while I'm really going to miss my family, I'm also a bit relieved to not have to deal with crazy airports and the stress of making sure I get to see everyone in such a limited period of time. I am excited to wake up with friends, watch the Thanksgiving Parade in my PJs with some coffee, and attempt to bake and cook without burning the house down. It won't be traditional, but it will be a much needed break and the perfect time to reflect on all that I'm blessed with, nonetheless.

What are your Thanksgiving plans?

Thanks for stopping by, all. lovelovelove.

-C

via

{ Things that inspire. }

When I was getting out of the service, this old marine major said to me, "What do you want to do with your life?" And I said, "Well, I think I want to go into television, but I don't know if I have the talent." He took his two shoes that he was shining and he smashed them together and he said, "Don't you know you can have anything you want in this life? You've just got to want it bad enough! Now, do you really want it?" I said, "Yes, sir, I do." 

-Regis Philbin

Watching Regis' last day on Live this morning tugged at my heart strings. What a beautiful career. In between the commercials they had Regis reflecting on his life in televion and on the show, and he talked about when he went back to visit his old high school in the Bronx. He told the students there to make the most of their time at school and to go into the world with confidence because "you are as good as anybody else." And you could tell that he really meant that. I know it's not entirely groundbreaking, but for some reason, it really resonated with me this morning. The possibilities of what your life can hold are so endless. There are things in my life now that I never could have predicted, and though not all of them are good, there are so many GREAT things that can happen unexpectedly, just as easily. I hope I always remember that. 

Homework and a full day of classes are calling my name. I hope you all have a wonderful day and a marvelous weekend. I say we soak up Fall before we head straight into Winter :).

Thank you very much for stopping by. lovelovelove.

-C

all photos via Patterson Maker

{words for your week}

"Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma – which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary." -Steve Jobs

image via

{ stuck. }

I've hit a point of frustration. I've grown so tired of each day feeling like nothing more than an exercise of discipline. I'm tired of my to-do list being full of things that only take away time from the things I actually want to be doing. I know patience is a virtue, but good heavens, I need inspiration or I may croak.  

{ a reverie to escape reality...}

I know a vacation wouldn't actually save me from my very long to-do list or other stresses, but I can't help but to daydream just a little. I would love to get away from reality and bask in the glory of the sun and sand. My extensive list of projects and papers has even taken my time away from this little blog, and that's always frustrating. The load doesn't seem to be lightening up anytime soon, though, so I guess I better put on my big girl panties and get over it.

How do you guys deal with stress?

Thanks for stopping by, y'all. lovelovelove.

-C

{ A long weekend...}

I had a wonderful night last night with great friends and woke up this morning feeling extremely tired and extremely blessed.  

I am so looking forward to a blissful Fall weekend.

Trevor's family is coming into town, and I get to play "bed and breakfast" while his sister and her lovely boyfriend stay at my apartment. I'm so happy to have them here and I can't wait for good beer, good people, and good times. 

I hope you are all having a wonderful week. If you have been busy like I have been, then I hope you get to unwind and refresh. You deserve it :).

Thanks so much for stopping by, y'all. lovelovelove.

-C

source 1, 2, 3

{ Rooms to inspire }

One.

Two.

Three.

Four.

Five.

I've been doing some more brainstorming for my home lately,

and these photos have been inspiring me as of late. I'm still working on the actual execution part (thank you, college student budget) but will keep you guys posted as things progress. I'm aiming to have some pictures up on Friday.

One. I love the bold rug with the galvanized steel accents and clean white finishes. Simple and effective.

Two. Coming home to those yellow doors would cheer up any dreary day.

Three. A prime example of how all neutrals can be just as interesting as a space full of color. I particularly love the marble tulip side table (drool) against the wood paneled wall. 

Four. Clean, white, fluffy bed with floral print accents. Fit for a lady.

Five. I'm a huge fan of open shelving. I love the casual, simple elegance it offers. My own kitchen has open shelving as well, but it does not have all of that amazing copper cookware or that incredible sink. 

 (sorry for the poor quality photo)

I've got a busy week ahead! Have some fun things for the blog this week so stay tuned :)

Hope you're having a great week so far. Thank you so much for stopping by. lovelovelove.

-C

{ Words for your week }

We need some light.
First of all, we need some light.
You can't sit here in the dark.
And all alone, it's a sorry sight.
It's just you and me.
We'll live, you'll see.
Night after night,
We'd sit and wait for the morning light.
But we've waited far too long,
For all that's wrong to be made right.

Day after day,
Wishing all our cares away.
Trying to fight the things we feel,
But some hurts never heal.
Some ghosts are never gone,
But we go on,
We still go on.

And you find some way to survive
And you find out you don't have to be happy at all,
to be happy you're alive.

Day after day,
Give me clouds, and rain and gray.
Give me pain, if that's what's real.
It's the price we pay to feel.

The price of love is loss,
But still we pay.
We love anyway.

And when the night has finally gone,
And when we see the new day dawn,
We'll wonder how we wandered for so long, so blind.
The wasted world we thought we knew,
The light will make it look brand new.

So let it shine.

Day after day We'll find the will to find our way.
Knowing that the darkest skies will someday see the sun.

When our long night is done,
There will be light.

- Light from Next to Normal


Such a beautiful, inspiring song, and one that is touching my heart right now. 
I'll be spending today cleaning my apartment, catching up on work, making blog posts for the week, and soaking up the last day of the weekend. 


Thank you very much for stopping by. lovelovelove.


-C 

photo via Patterson Maker

{ when all else fails...}

1. drink a cuppa tea 2. give yourself a ballerina bun 3. daydream


It's been a rough couple of weeks. Though there have been lots of good days in there, today was particularly trying. Feeling much too overloaded with work, bad news, and sleepiness. Still, in the midst of trouble, it's important to acknowledge all that you are grateful for. I know there is so much that I take for granted on a daily basis. As dark and long as this tunnel of insecurity and instability seems sometimes, I know that at the heart of it all, this life is a gift.

I said I had some news to update you all with today, and I do. I just want to wait until I have more energy and enthusiasm to write about it. Stay tuned.

thanks so much for stopping by y'all. I mean it. lovelovelove.

-C

*all photos except the last via my iphone

{ Happiness...}

It looks like another crazy week ahead. Even though I woke up feeling overwhelmed, these images made me smile. 

I've got some really exciting things to update you guys about, but at the moment I have to finish getting dressed for class and work. I'll be back tomorrow to report more about life lately.

I hope you guys are having a great week. Feeling stressed? Take some time today to sit, sip coffee and read a good book. It will be better for you in the long run.

Thanks so much for stopping by. lovelovelove.

-C

source 1, 2, 3, 4