31 Days of Blogging

Of course, since I'm kind of new back to this, and really am starting to blog and not just "journal," I am struggling for some sort of inspiration on blog topics. Yeah, I know I don't have to update everyday, buuuut I'm hooked ok! So as I was browsing for new people to follow, I found this nifty little challenge. Everyone of course remembers the 30 or 31 pictures in 30 days challenge, well this is it, but with a twist ;)

So I bring to you 31 days of blogging!! Thank you to Sugar and Strips for the inspiration. 

Day 1

A random picture of you with 15 facts

1. I have the mindset of a guy. I let things roll off my back easily, I don't hold grudges, I say what's on my mind by being very upfront, I don't play girl games, and I have a healing habit of cussing like a sailor. I love being outdoors, and I'm also somewhat of a dare devil. Don't worry, I can also be classy, sassy, and clean up and be quite the southern belle.
2. I don't have typical fears. Heights and spiders don't seem to bother me. I am more afraid of letting others down, growing old, and dying with regrets.
3. I think there is some magic that comes along with Summer. There's something about those months that just make me feel so alive. I hope that magic never ceases to exist.
4. Unlike most people in the south, I actually prefer baseball over football.
5. It's my dream to live in Nashville one day. I still think my heart is calling me to work in the music industry. I am just waiting for the right opportunity to fall in my lap, and I will be there in two shakes of a lamb's tail.
6. My favorite foods fried green tomatoes, my mom’s potato soup, onion rings from the varsity, and tons and tons of sushi.
7. The greatest day of my life was April 11, 2006. Thinking about that day never ceases to make me smile or laugh.
8. Bluegrass, mandolins, country roads, wind in my hair, high speeds, adrenaline, laughing, sunshine, fresh cut grass, Cades Cove, the cabin, and James Taylor are like medicine for my soul.
9. I have a very tender heart that I wear on my sleeve. Sometimes you wouldn't believe it, but that's because I don't care for babies or whiners.
10. I never leave home without my camera.
11. In my opinion, no girl's wardrobe is complete without at least one pair cowboy boots.
12. I lived with the same 3 people all 5 years through college. They were and still are some of my best friends. Even though we had our rough patches, we couldn't have asked for better. We honestly grew to be family--right down to our nightly family style dinners.
13. Billy is my best friend, my better half, my rock, my everything. I don't know how I got so lucky to have a man so perfect for me as him. We are MADE for each other. I love how he keeps me on my toes, and even more, I love how he takes my sass and somehow always goes along with my crazy adventures. I feel like we are each other's perfect complimenting partner.
14. That being said,  I don't believe in soul mates, or at least everyone else's definition of it. I believe soul mates are made not born. That is a special connection you have with someone that only comes with time. Once you can finish each others sentences, read each others thoughts, and know their ticks and tocks, then you're soul mates in my mind.
15. Casey is my sweet, sweet puppy. I never knew it was possible to love a dog as much as I love her. There are no words to explain how precious she is to me. She is, hands down, one of the smartest, sweetest, best behaved dogs I have ever known.

You can teach an old dog new tricks!

I am so proud! I really should be asleep right now, but I was determined to figure out how to make these before I went to sleep tonight. It seems I'm returning to the blogging realm full force, because BOO-Yah! I made it!!

What I'm loving Wednesdays

Here are the things I'm loving this Wednesday

My new running shoes

I'm officially HOOKED on the show Once Upon a Time

Even though it's very blurry, but I'm totally loving and so proud of this picture of my Granddaddy that my mom sent me from dinner with my grandparents tonight. He's 81 (82 in April), and has very very advanced Alzheimer's. He hasn't known who I was since I was in Junior or Senior high school. He doesn't know who he is or where he is, so seeing him doing little things is such a tremendous feeling for all of us. This is the first time in months that he's actually ate at the table, much less fed himself!! Maybe I'll tell you more about him in a later post, or really more about how incredible and amazing my grandma is to still be his primary care giver after 58 happy, love filled years. 

Totes want one of these. What a schweet engagment present this would make. I say that like I should actually expect a ring soon. Pshhh..

On my list of crafts to make -- a new easter/springy burlee

Leather leggings. Get in my closet!

but since this is MY blog, I'm giving my own twist on this traditional weekly post. We all know my first love is music, and I'm going to also throw in some of my favorites that are on a routine shuffle this week :)

Lights of my Hometown - Brian Davis

The two guys that wrote this song are probably, in my opinion, some of the best writers in Nashville today. 

Standing in line - Chris Weaver Band

I've been aware of these guys for quite some time, because of my best friends dates the bass player, but never really made a point to give them a listen until I saw them mentioned in Billboard for being the top 10 bands to look out for in 2013, and boooooooy had I been missing out. They have somewhat of an old school Hootie and the Blowfish tone that I love!

Sunday Funday!

What's up with me today? I'm so glad you asked!

Today's project will be prepping for baseball season. The countdown stands at 18 days till SFHS's first scrimmage game against King's Ridge. Sadly, I'm more excited about this game than the official first game, because I'm looking forward to seeing some familiar faces from KR, not the complete shut out that it will probably be.. sorry Paul Byrd, I hate it for ya ;)

I'm working on making Baby Casey, the unofficial South Forsyth Baseball Mascot, a super adorable spirited bandanna. The unfortunate part, I only have one t-shirt to work with, because the keeper of the swag closet thinks I am going to dress her in t-shirts and stuff like some sort of "yuppie" dog and he doesn't morally agree with that.. so I had to steal one of Billy's old ones. Shhh! Wish me luck, because I haven't used my sewing machine since October. It didn't go so hot, since I broke two needles in less than 5 mins. Let's hope this outing is a bit more prosperous.

 Oh! :) and I'd also like to share this precious little gift I got for my cube neighbor's new baby that will be here in just 2 short weeks! As you know there's one thing that I believe every little girl should own, and that's a pair of little pink cowgirl boots. I'm almost 24 and still wear mine ;) I can't wait to see her little baby feet in them!

Queue the update in 3-2-1 GO!

Finally, I've found a weekend afternoon that isn't already booked with baseball, cleaning, traveling, netflix (yes, I take my netflix addiction very seriously, and you should too), or some other form of entertainment and can set aside some time to actually blog. Insert my typical pity party about how I should update more often.

One thing a lot of people have been asking about is my new pad! Woop woop! After a very long apartment hunting ordeal I found 1 bedroom apartment in Atlanta at a price that I felt comfortable with. Yes, I was being a tight wad.. Then after I saw my complex on the news for a shooting, I decided to find a new place of residence, and luckily I hadn't signed any official papers so I was able to return to my search. Much to my typical habits, I returned to the very first apartment I looked at on my very first day of hunting... It's now what I consider my cozy little apartment home that I couldn't wait to start decorating.

My next stop was my beloved pinterest to load up on all sorts of decorating ideas! These were my favorite inspiration photos for my living room--mostly because I thought it was something simple, budget friendly, and flexible. I saw so many ideas that I loved, but since I was on a budget, unable to paint, and I wasn't even sure what kind of furniture I was going to have I kept them as easy-peasy as possible. Also throw in the fact that I had a lot of stuff from college that I still wanted to use..

 

and the final results!

Some friends of mine were moving in together and needed a sweet, sweet friend to relieve them of their extra furniture. I was so gracious enough to take their couch, ottoman, and over sized chair at a steal! Since I was being such a great friend, they threw in the washer and dryer for free. (Just know I was really tempted to use the phrase, fo-freez, but I withheld. Your welcome) As you can see, I was able to implement the floral and chevron pillows from my pinterest inspiration. I was so, so surprised that I was able to find two patterns that coordinated as well as in the inspiration photo (Floral, Ikea and Chevron,TJ Maxx). 

This gallery wall, well, was a chore! I went to 5 different stores in order to get the best deals and still stick to the same black frame, with mat theme. After I found all the pieces, and felt comfortable with a layout design, I used this cute little pinterest tutorial to help me hang them without putting 23042498 nail holes in my wall. My favorite part of this wall is my custom made sign that commemorates my sweet little college town that is so near and dear to my heart, because it's where Billy and I first met. Rachel at Simply Southern Signs was so great and easy to work with, and I can't wait to buy another sign from here again in the future.

 If you know me, you know that I love to cook! So I was super excited about my preciously kitchen and brand spanking new appliances! I used mostly rements from my college apartment. I love red kitchens, which was pretty stinking convenient for me :)

These are a few more rements from my college apartment, and lucky for me, I loved my apartment in Milledgeville. I'd also like to point out my Hobby Lobby steal--the HUGE oval fram for $7 (a regular $40). Even though you can't see it from this angle, on the smaller table, a freebie I found in Billy's garage, my pencil sketch of The Georgia Theatre, one of my prized possessions  I need to get it framed but haven't found a permanent home for it so I haven't pulled the trigger and went to a frame shop yet. Again, if you know me, you know my love of music, and that some of my fondest memories are at the Georgia Theatre. My internship with BG "officially" started out in that building, which led to many other unforgettable nights and days.. but that's another blog entirely. 

 My bathroom! Again, college leftovers, but they'll do until I have a male live-in who will veto my prissy pink stuff. Until that day, my polka dots and pink will reign proudly. Notice my other pinterest inspired project (Well, this one was a gift that my roommate knew I wanted) the magnetic makeup board which I adore.

So that's my humble abode.. and this is my precious work space. I figured if I was going to be there for 8+ hours a day, a might as well make it comfortable. I, like most anybody in cube land, was not fond of the plain beige walls, so I decided to spruce it up and add fabric from JoAnn's and some coordinating frames from Target and Hobby Lobby. Now I don't mind hanging out in nerd land so much.