Kati-Like

not your typical rose

2012-02-27T10:06:00.000-05:00

Dear Mom,

I received a gift for graduation that I've been dying to share. I've seemed to surround myself with some pretty talented artists over the past couple of years and my friend Sean is no exception. He submitted this painting in an art show we did together and I fell in love with the roses. Turns out he painted me my own little rose!

Of course I love it! This chunk of my room is a collage of things that inspire me and things that are just nice to look at, I think it fits in quite nicely.

valentine's chocolates

2012-02-17T08:53:00.000-05:00

Dear Mom,For my Valentine's gift this year I got a little creative, and a little sticky. I gave my friends a white chocolate candy with raspberry filling. All you need to make chocolate candies is a chocolate mold, melting chocolate wafers (I used Merckins, it comes in several different colors, I chose white), and your choice of filling.

I melted the chocolate wafers in a ceramic bowl placed in the microwave for about 2 minutes, at 45 second intervals, stirring frequently. I sprayed the mold very lightly with cooking spray so the chocolates could pop out easier, then, I "painted" on the first coat of chocolate so it wouldn't be too thick. I pressed in my filling so it almost reached the tops of the molds and then filled in the rest with more chocolate.

I drew on everyone's first initial to their own piece of chocolate with a red chocolate writer, wrapped them up in a candy wrapper then placed them in a Valentines box and tied it up with some twine.

You can find chocolate molds in any shape under the sun, I think I might try some for St. Patrick's day. Shamrock shaped dark chocolate peppermint patties? I think yes.

banjo night

2012-01-24T12:53:00.001-05:00

Dear Mom,

I'm always excited to find fun and free things to do around the city, especially when it involves music. One of my favorite days of the week is Wednesday because that is when the Elks Club on the North Shore holds Banjo Night. Every Wednesday night at 8pm like clockwork, the Pittsburgh Banjo Club uses the club as a rehearsal space which is open to the public.

The atmosphere is so upbeat and fun, the music is great and the food (and beer) is cheap! The audience is made up of people of all ages and at any moment you can expect someone to get up and dance. The band plays bluegrass and dixieland classics usually, but this night was just before Christmas so there were a lot of carols thrown into the mix as well. I love to strike up conversations with the members, they are always so kind and always hilarious. Last time one of them gave me his card and said "I really want to give you ukulele lessons!"

The audience is always encouraged to sing along and make suggestions. It is just practice to the members so the energy is fun and relaxed and usually you can count on the members picking fights with one another. "Sorry we were a little choppy in the middle there folks, someone forgot their music this evening." (As every member proceeds to point at the culprit.)

So if you're in Pittsburgh and bored on a Wednesday night, I highly suggest stopping by the Elks Club. I usually end up leaving early and getting nagged by the old men who say that they can stay up later than I can!

ten things i love V1

2012-01-20T08:20:00.000-05:00

Dear Mom,

I'm going to be implementing a couple of new features into the blog. The first is a "10 Things I Love" list I'll post bi-weekly. This is just a list of things of things that I've starred or tagged or bookmarked around the internet and might as well share with my readers! Welcome version one!

1. This Chunky Pom Pom Hat by BeardedOwlsHoots on Etsy.

2. This photo project called A Lyric a Day by Luke Beard.

3. Corgis. Especially puppy corgis. I can't wait to be able to have one! His name will be Skiba.

Source.

4. This Chickpea Salad Wrap recipe from Oh She Glows. Yum.

5. My good friend Andre just released this video music video for his song "In a Bad Way" and I absolutely love it. You can check out André Costello and the Cool Minors on Facebook.

6. This Keys Wallet Cell Phone reminder door mat by Damn Good Door Mats on Etsy.

7. These Loxley Mary Jane Wedges worn by Tieka.

8. I've been loving drawer pulls lately, especially this vintage set from Nik Naks Vintage.

9. This DIY hex sign coasters project by Tick Tock Vintage

10. My roommate Elisa and I have been obsessing over Lana Del Rey lately. We are perpetually stuck in the 90s so her deep, grungy voice has been great theme music for a while.

d.i.y cookie jar

2012-01-16T23:33:00.000-05:00

Dear Mom,

I know it's been a while since Christmas has been over but I wanted to share my little gift experiment. Being that I was in the process of graduating, I didn't have a lot of time or money to spend on presents this year. I have seen these cookie ingredient jars around the internet for a couple of years and have always wanted to make them. All you have to do is add the eggs, butter and vanilla to these perfectly packed jars!

In the end buying the mason jars and other ingredients wasn't that expensive, that's the bonus of buying in bulk! I also made my own tags with the directions printed on the back which the jar recipients really appreciated! Here are the steps I took for creating the cookie jars!

Ingredients

1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour

3/4 teaspoon baking soda

3/4 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 cups (9 ounces) Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels

3/4 cup packed brown sugar

1/2 cup granulated sugar

Directions

COMBINE flour, baking soda and salt in small bowl. Place flour mixture in 1-quart jar. Layer remaining ingredients in order listed above, pressing firmly after each layer. Seal with lid and decorate.

Recipe To Attach:

Preheat oven to 375° F. Beat 3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) softened butter or margarine, 1 large egg and 3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract in large mixer bowl until blended. Add cookie mix and mix well, breaking up any clumps. Drop by rounded tablespoon onto ungreased baking sheets. Bake for 9 to 11 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely. Makes about 2 dozen cookies.

lilac wine

2012-01-07T21:29:00.000-05:00

Dear Mom,

While home for Christmas I met up with my dear friend Andrew to have an adventure day! Our day consisted of breakfast, coffee, driving, singing, exploring, picnicking, touristing, thrifting, and more eating.

We explored the Watkins Glen area, mostly around the docks while spying on the fishermen. It was bitter cold and rainy but we enjoyed the dreariness of it all. It was like we were walking inside of a Longfellow poem.

We got back to our roots a little by walking through the Corning Museum of Glass. I don't care how old I am, glass blowing will never get boring.

christmas details

2012-01-07T01:10:00.001-05:00

This Christmas was special to me for so many reasons. The 5 hour drive is worth having the whole family together because it is such a rare occasion, and being able to spend time with baby Jack was more than I could have asked for. The time spent with my family included a lot of baking, movie watching, memory lane strolling and nephew cuddling. I swear I have a million photos of this little guy!

new chapter

2012-01-06T23:56:00.001-05:00

Dear Mom,

Whew, first post since graduating! It's been much too long, but I'm here to happily say that big things are a'comin! Life has slowed down in the best way since completing my finals and finishing my portfolio. And having the best mother in the world means receiving the best presents. For graduation I received a Canon EOS Rebel T3 as a surprise at my portfolio show a few weeks back. I've been needing a camera in my life for a very long time. I can do so many things now that have been on my "to do" list for months! I took my new toy on its first adventure and learned a thing or two from my good friend and photographer, Kayla! Here are some of my first shots!

jack

2011-11-06T21:48:00.001-05:00

Dear Everyone,

(photo via my phone)

I'm sitting in a hospital room with my family and my sister-in-law who is going to deliver my nephew. She's being induced because Jack is too big for momma. She took the medicine about an hour ago and it could take up to 6 hours for delivery to start, so it's a lot of sitting around, talking, telling stories and eating. It's very quiet in the hospital but there's a lot going on inside of me. Jack is my first nephew. He's my older brother's son and both sets of the grandparent's first grandchild. He is the first. He represents so much for this little family we have here. Jack is named after my grandfather who passed away 4 years ago and left a gaping whole in our lives. And I honestly feel that when he arrives that part of me will be filled again.

When he comes I will no longer be myself, I will be taking on an entirely new identity. I'll be an aunt, I'll be part of his support and love system. The love I have for him is bigger than the love I've ever felt for anything. Something inside of me is growing and changing. I drove six hours from Pittsburgh to be here to meet him. That's six grueling hours of just myself and the radio being able to think about how much I love him and in what ways I want to influence him. It's safe to say there were a lot of tears on that little road trip, though I'm trying to hold it together now.

I don't think he'll ever know what he means to me. He will have no idea how much I'm going to learn and experience from him.

This is the best day of my life.

sweet and simple

2011-10-10T18:46:00.001-04:00

Dear Mom,

Yesterday was Sunday and it was spent exactly as Sundays should: outside, eating and with friends. My amazing friend Logan and I made a sweet little picnic to enjoy in my backyard, which hasn't seen much action since the beginning of summer.

I also re-blued my hair. It was a nice day.

brew on broadway

2011-10-07T10:03:00.000-04:00

Dear Mom,

Holy moly it's been forever since I've posted! While my excuse is old it is also true, I'm a busy, busy girl. Being my last quarter of school and spending every moment I can with my friends and family (plus the lack of a decent camera), blogging opportunities are slim. But, I did do something recently worth sharing! Elisa (fashionista, blogger, amazing roommate, etc.) and I went to a trivia night hosted by a local Non-Profit community coffee shop called Brew on Broadway at which my friend André works. The event was BYOB (or wine, in our case) and was tons of fun. There was a full house of people participating in the trivia. Our team name was Pumpkin Spice and we came in 5th place out of probably 8 or 9 teams. Not bad. It was the Disney Quote category that really saved us from last place.

The coffee shop itself is adorable. It's the perfect example of a quaint, community based business just outside of the city. The coffee selection is broad and well as reasonably priced. It's also filled with things like chess boards (and the more wine I drank the less I was ashamed that I still have no idea how to play chess). The shop was even more enjoyable given this amazing fall weather we've been having. I swear there wasn't a cloud in the sky the entire day, which made for a pretty great sunset while we sat outside waiting for the fun to begin.

This is my 'deep in thought' face. It really didn't do as much for our answers as you'd think. I mean, who really knows the meaning of A.D or in which cities were the last four summer olympics held anyway (especially after a couple glasses of wine)?

plush

2011-08-18T11:01:00.000-04:00

Dear Mom,

So, we're going to have a pretty special addition to our family in about 3 months. You'll have your first grandbaby and I'll have my first nephew (well, I'll be an Aunt for the first time as well)! I'm so excited I could just start dancing, but I won't because I'm at work and that would be awkward. Jack Michael Smith, we already know that you will be spoiled beyond imagination but lately I cannot get enough of these handmade plush dolls on Etsy. I want them all for him! I also already know I'm going to be the crazy, kooky aunt, so why not buy him some quirky plush dolls? I don't see a problem with it really.

The cool thing about plush dolls is that they are not just great for cuddling, they also make a room fun! Think of them as pillows with faces. Plus, the fact they are homemade, stitched with love, make them all the better. And since I'm absolutely hopeless when it comes to sewing (and cooking, cleaning, gardening... anyways...) I gathered some of my favorite plush items from Etsy!

1. Sweet Plush Gray Foxes by ohsweetlulu

2. Bashful Mabel Doll by junecraft

3. Big Stuffed Guy with Big Mustache by Bambaks

4. Frabbit by Skizzarah

5. Douglas Fir by sleepyking

6. Little Albino Quibbit by tinyoyster

7. Liam by sleepyking

smitten

2011-08-17T14:54:00.001-04:00

The Eames Rocker.

That's all.

I hope everyone is having a happy Wednesday!

dog days

2011-08-04T12:21:00.005-04:00

Dear Mom,

Have you ever borrowed two dogs, packed a bunch of food and went on a random beach day with your friends twice in one week? No? We're just weirdos? Okay.

Yep, I went with my beautiful friends to Morraine State Park about an hour north of the city. We went up on a Sunday where we realized that the beach would be 10 times more fun if we had dogs because almost everyone else there had their canine companions along. So we planned a trip for Thursday and borrowed a couple of dogs (none of which belong to us) and set sail for an amazing afternoon.

My friend Kristin is an amazing photographer who just happened to bring her camera (and also this nifty contraption that allows her to take her camera into the water, crazy girl) and captured the day beautifully.

This is Mae and Plank. They were the cutest little helpers on our adventure. Plank was the only one who got in the water though, Mae was way too happy in the shade.

Thank you thank you Kristin!

branded

2011-07-30T19:28:00.003-04:00

Dear Mom,

I'm just going to come out and say it, I can't think of anything witty and I just need to tell you! I got my first tattoo. Oh my goodness I have a tattoo!

It was done by Pete at Kyklops tattoo in the Southside of the city. He was very kind and careful. My friends Richie and Sean went with me and helped me through it (it hurt a lot). Richie got tattooed as well, he got a second rose on the inside of his elbow which turned out really beautiful.

Alright, time to show you what I got! Do you recognize it? You should! It's the Cameron, New York town line. It's home on my arm! It was semi-spur-of-the-moment, I've been planning it for a couple of weeks. I got it so I could have home with me because I am not home, and I don't plan on living in Cameron any time soon. But it has kind of taken on a new purpose, it keeps me grounded. My life is going in a million different directions and it's easy for me to lose my head, when I look at this tattoo I'm reminded to just cool it, take a breather.

I absolutely love it. It is so simple, the perfect size and I love the red ink. Did I surprise you? I surprised myself.

Thanks to Sean for the photos!

sylvan beach

2011-07-07T18:03:00.002-04:00

Dear Mom,

(on second thought, she's here and won't be nearly as interested, so.)

Dear Readers,

Welcome to Sylvan Beach located on the beautiful Oneida Lake in upstate New York. This is my family's choice location for vacation. My family has been coming here for one week out of the summer for about six years, however I've only been able to join them three out of the six due to being in school when they usually come. But this year Momma scheduled during my 3 week break from school (3 weeks is actually a long break when you go to school year-round). This week also happened to host The Fourth of July and Mom's birthday. Needless to say we've been full of excitement. Plus, we usually stay in a cottage further from the beach but this year our place is right on the beach! Literally about ten steps away from beach-ness anytime. My time has been spent either lounging, eating, exploring or eating (seriously gonna regret all this eating back in normal-world), and I'm perfectly okay with that. Not only does Sylvan have a fantastic beach, it's also a lot of fun! I took a stroll with my Mom, sister and her best friend to do a little photo shoot: Sylvan style.

This is what I wore for Mom's birthday dinner. I only mention this because I've noticed that I pick out my outfits based on a WWES (What Would Elisa Say?) mentality. I think she'd approve. Plus, I really like my pants that I got on sale at the Gap.

Sylvan also has this little amusement park at the end of the beach. It's pretty small and has a little bit of a Scooby Doo mystery vibe, but we like it.

One of my favorite parts of this town is the community. There's always some sort of event or gathering like this weekly band in the park. I can't remember the name of the band but they did country music covers. It was pleasant. I also love that the Erie Canal is connected to the lake. There is so much action here, I can't get enough of the big boats!

Like I said in my last post, I can't help but feel romantic in this town. Everything has so much poetry. So it makes sense that my favorite part of this week has been the sunsets. Every night has a spectacular sky but each one has been different. It's as if the clouds and colors tell a story and it gets me every time.

beach daze

2011-07-05T17:12:00.001-04:00

Dear Mom,

Oh how I love the beach. Oh how I love this beach! Sylvan Beach, New York on Onieda lake. A little town with a big personality. You are here with me, you are watching the tv religiously awaiting the Tot Mom verdict. Tomorrow is your birthday but today is a lazy day.

Thanks to my baby sister Lizzy for these photos (and the dress)! We are having a blast on vacation and our favorite part is the beach. This town is full of little treasures but most of our time is spent hopping the waves of the lake.

I've been in quite the romantic mood so far on this trip. I think the quaintness of this place is getting to me. I'll definitely have to do some more exploration!

life according to my phone

2011-07-02T19:11:00.001-04:00

Dear Mom,

I love you, I love where we live. I've become especially proud of my home lately. I just want to pack up all of my friends from Pittsburgh and bring them home for a week of hiking, camping, bonfires and pond parties. I couldn't be more proud of where I was raised. I've snapped a few photos for you to see, just a little piece of my personal Heaven, captured by my phone.

Of course living here means dial-up internet and barely any cell phone service, but maybe there's something a little beautiful in that. But, I can finally update because we are now on vacation with Wi-Fi! Ahh... I little more on that later :)

little things

2011-06-07T21:19:00.002-04:00

Dear Mom,

Life has been pretty crazy these days, but I just wanted to stop by to show you some cute little things!

These adorable rings are from Old Gold Boutique and they are totally inspiring me lately!

Okay, back to finals...

grandview

2011-05-24T09:06:00.001-04:00

Dear Mom,

I know you know where I live, but I thought I'd share this little piece of Heaven with the rest of my readers. I live atop the big mountain looking over Pittsburgh. Literally, a few steps from our front door is this amazing view. It's the beginning of tourist season and everyone and their mother has to stop up on Grandview avenue, and I don't blame them! It's the perfect stop for people visiting the city, not only do you get to see the whole city in one glance, but there are so many cute shops and a killer restaurant for you to stop by too! I always offer to take group photos for people on the platforms when we're on a walk, I know how hard it is to to get the whole family in a photo!

This is my favorite dress. It was perfect for our walk because Doug mentioned that my shoes reminded him of what a mummy would wear, ha! So I had to wear a white dress with them. This is in no way a "fashion" blog but I like getting dressed up and taking photos, so I guess that's what this is.

Doug likes making panoramic photos so he made one. This gives you a good idea of what I'm gawking at every morning on my walk down the mountain!

It's been so great here lately, a little rain in the morning, 80's during the day and rain at night. Perfect. I love living up here. It's not too expensive and so convenient for walkers like us, plus it's so so pretty. I'll be sad when we have to move someday.

new again

2011-05-15T16:47:00.005-04:00

Dear Mom,

It's taken me a while to build up to courage to put up this post. I guess my weight has always been a scary issue for me to address. But I made this blog for a reason, to open myself up and document my life, so here goes. I've always been uncomfortable with my size but it was never as bad as it was last year. Around Christmas Doug and I were exploring our options regarding food and in January I was finally ready to commit to a lifestyle change. We began eating more raw vegetables and foods and drastically restricted any kind of sugar or sweeteners (why does juice need added sugar? It's fruit juice!) We also started avoiding all chemically altered or processed foods, so this meant buying organic products and reading labels like detectives. I've kept up with this diet change and have lost about 20 pounds! I want to be clear and say that I have never cut calories nor have I ever consumed anything that said "diet" or "light." Those products usually have artificial sweeteners and like I said we've avoided anything scientifically altered. In addition to eating better I also walk 2-4 miles a day depending on my schedule.

Anyways! I thought I'd share some pictures of my progress. I've lost 20 pounds but I am not at my goal weight yet. I think I'm going to have to incorporate more exercising into my day. And let me just say I hate exercising, but I also said I hated vegetables, and they've become apart of my life so we'll see.

Here is the dreaded before photo. This was taken last summer, I'd say probably July-August. It's funny because I don't really notice the loss until I look at photos like this.

I remember getting really confused at the thought of "dieting." I used to get overwhelmed with numbers like calorie intake and fat burning. It wasn't until I took a step back and thought about my body. It's not about what I shouldn't eat but what I should. It's never been so clear, you are what you eat.

I still have a long way to go. I'm not just focusing on losing weight but becoming healthier all together. This body will someday carry my children! I want it to be in perfect condition for that time. I'm sure I'll have some more progress posts in the future and maybe some recipes too!

adirondack

2011-05-13T14:59:00.001-04:00

Dear Mom,

I've been really inspired by summer lately, and since I'm always ~~subconsciously~~ consciously planning my future home I've become infatuated with Adirondack chairs. I think it all began when we passed this amazing little carpentry place on the way to the movies. They have all kinds of handmade stuff like swing sets, play houses and a lot of different kinds of furniture. Right along the road they display their Adirondack chairs, there's probably about 7 or 8 all in different pastel colors like pink, yellow, green, blue and more. I'm dying to stop and see them up close! But since I'm stuck at the school right now I guess I'll leave you with some inspiration found on Flickr.

I love the simplicity of these chairs. I especially love this take on the classic style with the different colors. I can imagine the patio of our house someday with 5 different color Adirondacks, maybe a fire pit and definitely a hammock!

Here's a little something showing some things I would incorporate around an Adirondack:

1. Solvinden Solar Lighting by Ikea - $9.99

2. Classic Adirondack Chair by L.L. Bean - $189

3. Cuff Candle Holders by CB2 - $4.95 each

4. Vibrant Afternoon Hammock by Anthropologie - $98

5. Outdoor Potting by Ikea - $15-$30

glory

2011-05-10T08:32:00.002-04:00

Dear Mom,

I wanted to show you my new glasses! They were a birthday present from Doug and I absolutely love them. We ordered them from Warby Parker, in the Roosevelt style. Warby Parker is an amazing site because every time a pair of glasses is purchased they give a pair to someone in need. According to their page "One billion people don’t have access to glasses, which means that 15% of the world’s population is unable to effectively learn or work because they can’t see clearly." And they weren't that expensive, $95 for any pair (except it was more for me because my prescription is so bad, I needed special lenses).

When I was going through the options I did a lot of research and measuring to make sure I was getting the right fit for my face, it wasn't until after I purchased them that I found out that they will send you up to 5 frames to try on before you order, for free! But I am extremely happy with the outcome. I know they are probably a bit dorky for your taste, but I think they are just what I needed. They bring a little bit of humor and lightness to the day.

As I am writing this I'm listening to one of my new favorite albums, Ghost by Radical Face. The song "Glory" is playing and one of the lines goes "I was blessed with bad eyes. There's a lot that I miss but I don't mind, I'm not that old." I thought that was appropriate for this post. I'm going through the process of narrowing down who I am and what I want to do. I am very thankful for what I've been given and I am excited about the future. If only this quarter would stop dragging, I'm ready for the beach!

before and after

2011-05-03T08:50:00.001-04:00

Dear Mom,

Lately I've been really into the idea of buying old, abandoned furniture and accessories and refurbishing them. I've seen this trend happen a lot on blogs and I think I would be great at it! I've gathered some inspiration from Design Sponge, they have a segment called "before and after" where readers can send in photos of their projects. Here are some of my favorites.

I think I will start a lot smaller than these pieces, more accessories, photo frames and such. Maybe when I get my foot in the door a little more I'll bring on some bigger items and upholstered projects.

Maybe once I get a collection going I'll start an Etsy to sell my pieces. I've always wanted to sell my pottery too, maybe I'll start my own little line. Oh the possibilities!

What do you think? Do you think these pieces are something you would buy?

kayla scott photography

2011-04-29T12:14:00.001-04:00

Dear Mom,

My very good friend, Kayla, is a wonderful photographer. She shoots my favorite kind of photography. Her style is very colorful and pretty while sort of mellow and muted. She's got an eye for lighting and tonality in her photos that translates into fantasy-like images! She's shot me before and we plan to do some more shoots when the weather brightens up!

I thought I'd share some of my favorites.

That's me! I loved working with her. She makes me feel really beautiful and comfortable, even though I'm already a big ham in front of the camera!

To see more of her work you can visit her Flickr or Facebook!

happy birthday

2011-04-27T22:32:00.002-04:00

Dear Mom,

I am a twenty-one year old now. I'm am not a little girl anymore, the decisions I make now have a huge impact on my life. You are not here to clean up my messes anymore.

But one thing I'll never have to do alone is celebrate. I know you would travel across the world to me to be with me on my birthday, it is my absolute favorite holiday and this year it landed on Easter Sunday.

I've always wanted to go to Phipps Conservatory and I got to visit on the last day of their Spring Flower Show with my boyfriend, my mother and baby sister.

brave

2011-04-21T21:58:00.004-04:00

Dear Mom,

I've recently been inspired by the thought of jumping in an RV and traveling around the country. This led me to a mini-fascination with Winnebagos. I'm talking 70's-80's style Winnes.
One of my favorite bloggers, Elizabeth from Delightfully Tacky, dropped everything to buy an early 70's Winnebago Brave and embark on what she calls her "Brave Journey." She traveled from her home in Alaska, down the west coast, down south and back again.

Here is some Winnebago inspiration:

If I were to buy a 70's or 80's Winne the first thing I would do is revamp the interior.

Here's a little concept board for a Brave makeover!

1. Metal Trucks by CB2 - $49.95 - $69.95

2. Paint Palette Pillow by CB2 - $40

3. Sunnyside Pillow by CB2 - $22

4. Striped Woven Lobsta Throw by CB2 - $40

5. Tromp L'Oeil Welcome Mat by Urban Outfitters - $38

6. Sprig to Mind Temporary Wallpaper by ModCloth - $54

7. Waterfall Ruffle Curtain by Urban Outfitters - $50

the aquarium

2011-04-20T23:15:00.006-04:00

Dear Mom,

Sunday we played hooky. It was the perfect day to go to the aquarium because it was quite gloomy out and we were practically the only ones there.

We made a video for you.

And here's me and an escapee peacock who wasn't an escapee after all.

apartment inspiration

2011-04-18T21:18:00.002-04:00

Dear Mom,

Here's a design trend that I think is perfect for apartment living. This design is defined by wood floors, white walls and bold furniture. Even more perfect for temporary dwellings is most everything can be found at Ikea or even thrifted!

Here is my living room inspiration:

Here's my version of affordable chic:

1. Karlstad Loveseat and Chaise Lounge Sectional by Ikea - $828

2. Stockholm Easy Chair by Ikea - $299

3. Lagoon Rug by CB2 - $349

4. Crochet Grey Pillow by CB2 - $20

5. Blur Pillow by CB2 - $49

6. Merete Pair of Curtains by Ikea - $20

7. Lack Coffee Table by Ikea - $30

8. Knitted Poufs by CB2 - $90 each

9. Virserum Photo Frame by Ikea - $11-$30

raffle winner

2011-04-18T13:45:00.001-04:00

Dear Mom,

Remember when I told you that I won a raffle? Yes, you heard me correctly, someone from our family (who wasn't Lizzy) actually won something!

This glorious gift basket was the result of a raffle from Right by Nature's monthly "Friday Fest." Right by Nature is a market for natural, organic and traditional products and every month they hold a Friday Fest where there are samples and raffles and lots of fun. I signed up at the door for free and went up to the customer service center before we left to see if I'd won anything and sure enough I did! I got to choose which prize I could win, it was between this basket and a kayaking package... but it was only for rentals and seeing as how I already have my own it seemed pretty lame. So I left with this "hair" gift basket even though the only thing hair related was a free haircut gift certificate to Evolve.