{ enjoy today }

{photo via}

i started my day with a broken computer charger, meaning i was unable to work on my design projects or put up a new blog post. instead, i read, made a to-do list for the day and had a nice, quiet breakfast. around 9:30 i walked over to the local arts high school that i work at part-time (in the theater department). i answered some emails and did a bit of work around there and thought about the styling project that i need to make a dent in when i get home, and the two clients that i will be following up with later today. i even  thought about the business idea that i've been brainstorming the last couple of weeks, and how i could carry it out in real life. and then i got a phone call saying that a substitute is needed for a theater class in a local after school program tonight. would i be interested in filling in?

sure, i said!

sometimes i feel like i'm working on so many things and i'm not sure what each of them means. how do all of these things fit into my life? my career? how do i make sure i'm thriving in these areas and not spreading myself too thin? at the end of the day, what's the point in it all?

but.

sometimes you've got to stop assigning reason and calculating how every move you make and project you work on will add up to your ultimate success. today, i'm enjoying everything that i'm working on. and that's enough for now.

lovelovelove.

{ Life Lately }

 One.

 Two.

 Three.

 Four. 

 Five.

 Six.

Life lately is busy, crazy, beautiful, fun, exhausting, exhilarating, stressful and freeing. 

all at the same time.

One.  indulging in a blue moon in wrigleyville.

Two. thrifting for treasures in lakeview.

Three. see number two.

Four. color inspiration while out and about at the merchandise mart.

Five. feelin' pink.

Six. the beautiful city of chicago.

what have you been up to lately? thank you all so much for stopping in today. wishing you all a wonderful week! 

-C

{ Life Lately }

Hey, everyone! 

Sorry for my absence yesterday. This week has already become one of the busiest yet, and it's barely Tuesday! I'll go ahead and pay for refills of coffee in advance for the rest of the day.

I spent yesterday morning wrapping up a few projects for a client:

{a sneak peek at some of the work for their master bedroom}

Working over at Jess LC:

{photo via Jess Constable}

And doing a mix of designs for clients, The Everygirl, and social media work when I got home. My computer caused a ruckus with some work I was doing which led me to starting over at one point--it's a good thing I love what I do :). 

Needless to say, it was a late night and I didn't wake up until 7:30 this morning, which is terribly late for me these days.  The extra sleep was much needed.

The rest of this week will include more of the same, plus a couple of really fun/big styling projects which I can't wait to share with you so soon! You're gonna flip.

Hope you all have a wonderful day :) If you're needing some extra assistance with your home, feel free to email me for a price quote! I'll be taking on new clients this week :)

Thank you so much for stopping in. lovelovelove.

-C

{ Things I'm Afraid to Tell You }

I'm jumping on the bandwagon. Miss Jess Constable recently wrote a post entitled "Things I'm Afraid to Tell You", and thanks to Ez and Meg spreading the word for bloggers to participate with their own posts, a movement started. I had a particularly trying week and just felt like now would be a good time to get a few things out, and have some real talk. So here goes nothing:

1. Some days I feel bad at everything: a bad friend, a bad girlfriend, a bad blogger, a bad employee, and a bad intern. When you spread yourself in many directions, it's endlessly frustrating to feel like you're failing when you feel like all you do is work your butt off to keep up. Most nights I'm still working at my computer when Trevor goes to sleep, and when I do shut down and step away early, I realize later that things didn't get done that needed to. It's a vicious cycle and I still don't really know how to manage my time better.

2. I hate being jealous, but I see so many bloggers constantly purchasing new items from shopbop or planning rendezvous to Europe and it makes jealous that I struggle just to pay my ATT bill every month (at the same time, I'm lucky to even have a cell phone bill to pay, so I'm not complaining)

3. On that note, even though I am so so so excited about both of my internships this summer, I am stressed about how I'll deal with not having a paying job for that much time. My expenses are next to nothing for the summer because I'm living rent free, but I still feel uneasy about it.

4. I want to start my own design/decorating/styling business like so many others, but I have no idea what will separate my own services from theirs and I feel goofy saying it out loud.

5. I was really embarrassed that I didn't have much direction for a while and felt so unsuccessful that I started avoiding talking about myself and became a lot more shy the past couple of years. Even though its gotten better, I still struggle with it and sometimes I feel like it makes people not like me when they first meet me.

6. I hate that I don't know where I want to end up after graduation.

7. The blog world is really materialistic and sometimes it scares me that this is such a big part of my life. I worry that I will forget to remember that none of this stuff really matters. 

8. Sometimes I wish I could go back in time and go to school elsewhere for interior design. It makes me sad that I'm now just in a place where I'm trying to hurry and finish my degree in the least expensive way possible, and that I don't think I'll feel much pride when graduation day comes.  

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Here are some of the other women sharing things they're afraid to tell you:

1ST WAVE: Carly: A Simple Affair / Cassie: Coco + Kelley / Christine: Court & Hudson / Caitlin: Sacramento Street / Roxy: My Cup of Te / Crystal: Blog / Meg: MIMI+MEG / Ashlina: The Decorista / Katie: Modern Eve / Erin: Apartment 34 / Erica: Design Blahg / Christine: Miles to Style / Franki: Life in a Venti Cup  / Sue: The Zhush / Erika: Radiant Republic / Gabrielle: Savvy Home / Monika: The Doctor’s Closet / Naomi: Design Manifest /Tobe: Because It’s Awesome / Becca: {extra}ordinary wonders / Lynzy: Sparkling Footsteps / Hitha: Hitha On The Go / Sarah: Note To Self / Liz: So Much To Smile About / Sarah: Blogstar / Alissa: The Goods Design / Jessie: Style & Pepper / Erika: Small Shop Studio  / AV: Long Distance Loving / Maggie: Maggie Rose Blog / Nicole: The City Girl In Me / Priscilla: The Best Laid Plans / Jen: Concrete Jungle DC / Janelle: Food Fashion Fitness / Natalie: East Coast Chic

2ND WAVE: Design for Mankind | Little Brown Pen | Beautiful Hello | Curating Style | Sweet Fine Day | The Jealous Curator | Happy Days | Sage & Berries | Really Handmade | Peck Life | Satsuma Press | Rena Tom | For the Easily Distracted |The Hemborg Wife | Vitamini Handmade | Courtney Khail Stationery and Design | Meg in Progress | Dando Photography Blog | Widdershins22 | Alison Citron | Pink Moon Daily | Just Pretty Things | From China Village | Tea with Me | The Darling Ewe | Not Your Average Ordinary | The Electric Typewriter | Elleby Design | Parsimonia {Secondhand With Style} | Life as an Artistpreneur | Hello Cupcake | Dellie | The A &B Stories | Pretty Little Things | Feistyelle | Nib & Zed | Well and Cheaply | I Ripple. I Dance. | Whitfield Awesome Blog | Foxtrot Press | Dry As Toast | The List of Now | Apple Blue | For the Love of | Four Flights of Fancy | Miss Modish | Snapshots & Secrets | Dirty Laundry |Bubby & Bean | Penelope’s Press | Little Nostalgia | Vale Design | Pikaland | Fleurishing | Print Pretty | Vespa Tales | Hazel & Agnes | Amanda’s Musings | Mo’ Funk Designs | Ordinary Mommy | Camp 1899 | In Honor of Design | Liberty’s Yarn | Love, Life & Pictures | Stacey Winters | Owl in the Rain | Living Life Creatively | Emma Elizabeth Clease | I Live in Vacouver Now | British Cream Tea

 

**image via Ez

{ Happy Weekend! }

Happy Friday, everyone! Fridays dont mean too much to me because I work on weekends, but don't feel too sorry for me because I have plenty to look forward to.

On Monday I am heading to Chicago to kick off Wedding Week at the BHLDN event for The Everygirl on Tuesday. 

+

+

= a very excited Caitlin Brown.

I cannot wait to meet Alaina and Danielle, the two lovely ladies behind The Everygirl, who I correspond with everyday but have never met in person, as well as many other lovely ladies that I'm sure will be in attendance. Not to mention, there will be cupcakes and cocktails. Sold.

Each time I think about stepping foot back into the beautiful city that is Chicago, my heart does a little pitter patter. I cannot believe how lucky I am to be spending my summer there interning for Jess Constable and doing some work for The Everygirl. I don't know how or why I was granted such blessings, but I am so, so thankful.

Wishing each of you a very happy weekend. Thanks so much for stopping in this week :). lovelovelove.

-C 

photo 1, 2, 3

{ Breathe...and Reboot. }

{breathe. make a list. it will all get done.}

Doesn't it seem like just as you scrounge up the money to pay your bills, they are already sending you new ones?

Tell me that's not just me.

I have so many exciting things ahead of me this summer with my internships in Chicago. I truly could not be more excited.

With the excitement comes a wee bit of stress. Just a wee bit. I need to sublet my apartment. I need to figure out a way that I'm going to pay my phone bill when I'm living there with no paying job. I'm hoping there is still time for me to save up a substantial amount of money before I leave, but I feel like every time I turn around I'm having to spend money on something. I need to figure out if I'm going to take summer classes. Is it worth the money? 

Then again, my paychecks have been off the last few weeks so maybe that's to blame for this sudden surge of stress.

Oh, I also dropped my iphone on the concrete yesterday as I was scrambling to get to work on time (I was actually super early but then realized the parking meter I was at was out of order so I had to find a new parking spot) and the screen shattered. I don't know how much they'll charge me to fix it,  but I guess I'll find out soon. Either way, it's useable for now so I'm not panicking about it.

At the end of the day, life is great. I'm so lucky. I mean, dropping your iphone on concrete and being stressed out about your cable bill? Definitely first world problems. All will be figured out in the end, and for now, I'm just going to breathe...and reboot. (brownie points for you if you can name that quote)

P.S. A post with more budget tips for furniture shopping is still coming! I just needed to change directions a little today. Hope you understand.

lovelovelove.

-C

photo via

{ Thank You }

Thank you all so, so much for your kind words about The Everygirl feature yesterday! Each comment, email, or tweet made my day. You guys are the best :).

I've had a lot of questions about where I got certain things in the apartment, and a few blog post requests to share some more tips on my favorite ways to put a home together on a strict budget (and sometimes, no budget at all).

So that's what the rest of this week is going to be about. I'm going to go through my source list with you and give you all the tricks up my sleeve. I hope it helps. Check back tomorrow to get started :).

Thank you all so much for stopping in today. lovelovelove to each of you.

-C

All photos by Arielle Elise for The Everygirl

{ words for your week: don't discount yourself. }

Tomorrow morning my home is being featured on The Everygirl. 

You know that REALLY surprised face that Taylor Swift has every time she wins an award? 

(By the way, this is not me making fun of Tswift. I totally love that lady.)

Well, that was pretty much my face when The Everygirl told me they wanted to feature my little ol' apartment. I have been a huge, huge fan of both Danielle and Alaina's blogs for quite some time now. Receiving a compliment like that from two ladies who I've admired for so long had me literally leaping down the hallways at work. 

No, seriously. There was lots of leaping.

I just want to be honest with you guys because it's just not me to play it cool. I'm not cool at all. This is such a surreal experience for me, and I'm still not sure I'll believe it until tomorrow. Either way, I just wanted to remember this day because this process has reminded me that you should never discount yourself. Crazier things have happened than your dreams coming true.

Thank you, The Everygirl.

I hope you all will stop over tomorrow for a peek into my home.  Sending lots of love your way this week.

-C

{ Sneak Peek of My Home Tour! }

As mentioned in a previous post, my little apartment is being featured on The Everygirl on Monday! I am so, so excited to see the feature, and can't wait to share it all with you. Here's a couple of sneak peeks:

Be sure to check it out on Monday, when the tour goes live :).

The last couple of months have been totally surreal. I can't believe the opportunities I've been so lucky to have. I just continue to be so thankful to be learning and growing each day. Thanks to each and every one of you for inspiring me on a daily basis. I hope you all have the happiest of weekends.

lovelovelove.

-C

Photos were taken by the amazing Arielle Elise Photography

{ words for your week }

Don't be the one that stands in your way.

Hey, everyone! How was your weekend? I spent mine hanging low. Yesterday was my first Sunday off in a long time, so even though I didn't do anything particularly Easter-like (my family is all in a different state) I did get to spend some quality time with the boyfriend, which was wonderful. And I did lotsa relaxin'. 

I have quite a few things on the to-do list today. You know that feeling when you  keep seeing the same things reappearing because you keep putting 'em off? Yeah. Thats me right now. Trying to force myself to bite the bullet and get it all done. 

Have a wonderful Monday, everyone. Treat yourself to something fun today! Mondays are hard enough. My treat of choice? Chocolate milk in a wine glass with my breakfast. ;).

Thanks for stopping in! lovelovelove.

-C

photo via GlitterGuides tumblr

{ Happy Weekend! }

I had a pretty awesome week, aside from the fact that I did nothing but work.

This happened! Must take a moment just to smile at how lucky I've been lately to receive so many amazing opportunities from amazing people). I can still hardly believe it. I have a potential opportunity at work that will help me save more money for my summer in Chicago. And tonight is date night! I haven't seen Treasure (my boyfriend, if you are a new reader. His real name is Trevor, and the nickname came from my three year old cousin at the time) all week despite the fact that we live streets apart. It's been hectic and the poor guy has been working like crazy. I'm so glad that we'll finally get to spend a little time together before another crazy week commences (even though I work all weekend. boo!)

I hope you all have the most wonderful weekend. Happy Easter!

-C