more of you

  There are only two people who know of this blog (to my knowledge)- Corinne and Kyle. I don't have any intentions of telling anyone else about it yet because I don't really know what I'm doing here or where I'm wanting this to go. But, I do know that I wanted bigger pictures, more pictures taken by me. So at 7 something this morning, I played around with the widths of this blog and am very happy with the result. Just a little more of everything. A bigger picture. Eventually, I'd like to make the pictures take up more space but... theres only so much you can do at 7 something when you still have to shower, get dressed, eat breakfast, and be out of the house within the hour.

cafe

Source: Bed Bath and Beyond

  I am about 1/2 way deep into my morning cup of coffee from seven eleven and I feel a super headache coming on. Coffee headaches are the worst and always seem to team up with dehydration. Sure, the quick practical answer is to drink more water- which I will. (Did you know if you're a coffee drinker- its best to drink a whole bottle of water when you wake up, before you ingest anything else?) But.. I'm wondering how soon is "too soon" to ask for my own coffee maker for Christmas? And do I have to wait until actual Christmas to open it? And will my family judge me for asking for this travel coffee press, too? Hmm.
  This babe pictured above is the Krups Model XP1500 that brews a pot of coffee AND can make espresso, too! At $99.00, I think it might be too good to be true... but maybe its worth checking out? The reviews for it seem mixed, with more leaning towards the decent side. So thasok, right?
  Morning coffee sessions have always been so precious to me that I think its about time I start making my own coffee and putting my spare dollars and change to something else. Like, a new car. Or... a vacation ;)

a birthday meal

 

  Ever see the Parks and Rec episode where Leslie spends the whole episode plotting Ron's Birthday? She teases and threatens him with balloons and the thought of a big huge party with tons of people and presents- essentially everything that would make a man's man like Ron Swanson cringe! In the end, she shows him to a dimly lit room with one chair and a big ol' turkey feast in front of a TV and two movies that she rented for him.

  Kyle and I are big fans of Parks and Rec, so I thought for his birthday I would try to create my own version of a Leslie Knope/Ron Swanson party for my sweet man. I am always cooking up meatless dinner plates that include vegetables and salad of sorts. Since Kyle is a "meat and potatoes" kind of guy, I thought he might really appreciate a dinner like this.

  I drew up a little dinner menu and sat at the table with him for a quiet little dinner party. He seemed really psyched!

baby daddy

source: popular critic

source: sling lady

  Much in the same way a guy with a puppy is instantly 10x cuter, I don't know of any ladies that don't totally swoon over a dad with a baby. Throw him in aisle 7 at the grocery store and you've got enough stimulation to knock out most of the female population. (I say most because misters don't do it for some sisters ;)

PS-  Speaking of cute dads, this video kind of sort of has my whole heart.

my moon, my man

  

   Today is Kyle's birthday! He is the best, most caring guy I know. I'm so lucky to be loved by him. :)

mug me some newness

  I know I've only been an official resident at my new home for 4 days but I can already feel a change. Having always been the kind of girl to daydream about her future, I am happy to experience the joy of living in the present. This is what I've been waiting for, what I've been dreaming of.
  To celebrate my life these days, I bought myself a mug from Anthropologie. We don't even have any coffee in the house! Just a few sachets of bedtime tea. And I'm so excited to take my very first sip from my very first mug in my very first home.
 

dos cinco!

source: Global Cookbook

 
 Feliz cumpleanos to me, ladies and gentlemen. On Monday, the 15th, your girl turned 25. I celebrated with a full day of work followed by dinner at Sweet Mandarin with Kyle and carrot cake with family and friends. They sang me the sweetest off-key rendition of Happy Birthday that I've ever heard.
  This new age has brought me tons of happiness and excitement. For once, I can honestly say I am thrilled to start this new chapter in my life, as cliche as that sounds. Want to know the super extra exciting news? Kyle asked me to move in! The fact that I have my own little home now to love, take care of, and grow in hasn't officially sunk in yet but its slowly becoming more real to me and I'm loving it. I'm sure something as simple as doing the dishes or Swiffer-ing the whole house will get old eventually but right now? I'm more than happy to do it all. This is the healthiest happiest thing to ever happen to me and I want to take care of this house, Kyle, Scott (our roomate!), and Sprocket (our pup!) in the best way I can. We're super busy this week with Kyle's birthday being tomorrow and getting ready for our double birthday party on Saturday so I probably won't be able to officially start moving all my stuff in until Sunday afternoon.
   Obviously, I have done what any girl would do, and have spent all morning e-window shopping online browsing sites like Anthropologie. Is it so bad to maybe purchase myself one little thing? It would be in celebration, you know? It only seems right. ;)

pillow fight

source: notcot

  My friend Joanna loves her some totebags and shes the only person who came to mind when I saw these totebag pillows. Its so incredibly simple! I am now kicking myself for passing up bags at band merch tables after shows. You know, when I was young and did that kind of thing.
  I will be 25 (TWENNYFIVE) on Monday. How did this happen? Wasn't I just 16? Feels like it. Eh, nevertheless, I'm nervous and excited and totally ready for it. I think.

Weekend!

Source: EleGala

  Today is the never-ending day. I want 5pm so bad. Its only 3 hours away but it seems like an eternity. I'm eager to get home to some delicious take-out, do laundry, pack, and start reading the new book Vanessa got for me. Oh, and sleep. I need to sleep. Kyle and I are waking up at the crack of dawn (my favorite thing to do, actually) and are heading to Clifton Park/Rexford, NY to celebrate my cousin John marrying Brooke! She's wonderful. He's wonderful. So, I'm really excited to partake in lots of happiness this weekend with family.

a few little links!

• Anthropologie's sister-store, BHLDN, is so dreamy.
• This post on Elements of Style makes me want to go thrifting and then leave town with all my treasures and my love.
• I was over it for a while but rediscovered these three Tumblrs and have been loving catching up on all the entries I've missed.

the glow

source: the glow

  The Glow is like The Selby, to me. But instead of just home envy, it fills me with future envy and showcases the sweetest, fashionable and inspiring moms.

lil nook

  This space looks so cozy. I love the idea of putting the bed into the wall as a means of creating more floor space. I took this piture from my old tumblr account and, in true tumblr form, the image is sourceless. Tisk. If anyone who comes across this image knows where its from, please let me know and I'll source it for all to see :)

escuela

 The other day, I posted about an art "school" that I heard about called 3rd Ward. I got in touch with someone from the school, scheduled a private tour, and headed into Brooklyn with Kyle yesterday to scope the place out. 

  I loved it! The hallways are bustling with inspiration and I am happy to report that it isn't as intimidating/nauseating as one might think an art collective in hipster infested Brooklyn may be ;) It was really a gigantic, comfortable, and encouraging place to be. If all works out, I'm looking to take their blacksmith class in September. Yay!

envy.

source: finders keepers

source: playing elegant

  I am all for these two spaces.