December 30, 2014

Goodbye 2014! An Overview and Reflection of the Year

This year has been full of change for me, both good and bad. I transferred from my two year community college to a 4 year university. I moved to a new town. I lost loved ones and found new friends. Through the stress and grief that 2014 brought me, I gained more determination, discovered a new outlook on life, and learned to accept that somethings are out of my control.


The strongest people you know can also become the weakest people you've met. And people who have always seemed invincible to you will eventually pass from this world. But this is how life works, and it is okay.

Despite the pain of the year, 2014 somehow still manages to also be the best year of my life. Not only did a debt free education become a reality for me, but through the scholarship I received I have also become part of an amazing foundation and community of friends.

I am grateful for everything that 2014 has had to offer me. Even the darkest of moments have the ability to transform you for the better.
 
I look forward to the New Year and believe 2015 will only bring more amazing moments and opportunities to learn and grow.


I hope 2014 has treated you well and the new year will bring even more wonderful moments.

December 29, 2014

Burgundy and Cream Winter Outfit

It was perfect weather to spend the day at the park. The day was bright and sunny, it seemed more like early fall than the end of December. I even found a handful of pecans.



 

Outfit Details

Cardigan: Charlotte Russe
Dress:  Monteau Los Angeles (purchased at Marshall's)
Tights: Merona
Boots: Mossimo

December 25, 2014

My Small Apartment Holiday Decor and Ugly Christmas Sweater

Happy Holidays! 


I live in a apartment without a lot of extra space, so I keep my holiday decor small and simple. This year, I set-up a small Christmas display on my kitchen cart. For trees, I have a box wood topiary and a potted Italian Stone Pine.



Outside I have my "winter" wreath, which I added a red bow to make it look more Christmas-y. 

This photo was taken prior to heading out to my work holiday party. We were encouraged to wear tacky Christmas sweaters, so I pulled out this cardigan that I glued Christmas ornaments onto. We had a potluck, played holiday themed charades, and exchanged gifts. It was a lot of fun.

I hope everyone has had a wonderful holiday season.

December 17, 2014

Gold and White Living Room Decor

Hello! Today I would like to share with you my current living room styling. I recently moved to a new apartment and have been working on getting everything all settled in. I have gotten one side of the living room all set, but I am still working on the entertainment center set-up.

Because I rent, the changes I can make to the apartment are limited. Therefore, I have to stick with renter-friendly decorating methods.



The sunburst mirror was a DIY project. I used wooden dowels, liquid gold leaf, a mirror, and some hot glue. I'm really happy with the way it turned out.

I purchased the wall decals from Target and really like them. They don't peel off on their own, but are still easy to remove. When removed, they do not damage the paint or leave a sticky residue. At the wrong angle, the gold foil feathers look a little bubbly due to the textured walls, but overall it isn't too noticeable.



I love the way the foil feather wall decals are reflected in the mirrors of my end tables. For the end table styling, I chose a candle and terracotta pot that I gold leafed. I added the terrarium to give it a pop of color and bring some life to the space.



I found the ceramic jay figurine and the vase at the thrift store and paid under $10 for both. They are probably my favorite thrift store finds ever. The gold drink coasters were also purchased from a thrift store.
The jar is filled with pebbles, fossils, and shells.

And that pretty much wraps up this side of my living room. Hopefully it won't be too long until I get the other half situated.

How long does it usually take you to get settled into a new home or to redecorate a room? Do you have any tips for speeding the process up?


December 9, 2014