10Jun / 2013

Time for a Big Girl Camera

As a little girl, I’d often beg my mother to buy me disposable cameras (which I’d waste on snapshots of my stuffed animals & double exposure photos). When I graduated high school five years ago, I was gifted a beautiful (pink) digital camera. I loved that thing. Then, college happened. That baby didn’t last one semester. Since then, I have been relying on friends and iPhones to document my life.

Debbie Portwood

Cala Dogana

With a big year of trips coming up and this little blog screaming for some higher quality photos, I figure it’s about time for a big girl camera. Problem is, I know very little about photography and I have even less of a budget.

Here’s what I do know:

I want a Digital SLR
I am hoping to spend less than $650 (I told you it was a small budget)
The camera needs to be something I can grow with. Meaning, I don’t want to buy a low budget camera if it only has a few capabilities.

Yep, that’s about it. That’s all I know.

I’ve been doing some research on the subject, and I found two cameras that peeked my interest: Canon EOS Rebel T3i & Nikon D3100. I’ve been reading their reviews, and they seem like pretty solid cameras at a reasonable price. I. just. can’t. pull. the. trigger. Probably because I have never paid for something this big ticket, and especially because I have very little knowledge on the subject.

I’m heading to California in September, and I would absolutely love to have at least a month to get use to the thing. That leaves me with a little over a month to make a decision. Help? Tips? Any advice for this photographing novice?

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07May / 2013

This May, I’m Swooning For…

This May, I’m swooning for everything in sight! During April, most of my “play money” went to room decor for my Spring Cleaning List. While there are still things to do, the list is significantly smaller now, and for the most part, I won’t have to buy anything. While I’m still working on a few financial goals (like a California trip this September!), I’ve been eyeing a few goodies that I’d love to add to my cart.

Clockwise/// Kate Spade Popsicle Coin Purse// Monogrammed Memories Double Handle Weekender // Coralie Bickford-Smith’s F. Scott Fitzgerald Hardback Classics // Firmoo Tortoise Sunglasses // Rachel Novak Beer Sweet Beer Print //Dog Eared Heart Ring ///

Kate Spade is beyond out of my price range right now, but I couldn’t resist sharing this delicious ode to summer. A girl can dream right?

bag

Ever since my beloved Pilot Precise V5 pens exploded all over my monogram weekender, I’ve been in the market for a new one. I absolutely love this Etsy find, and it’s at such an affordable price too.

All of this Great Gatsby hype has got me itching to reread all of my favorite F. Scott Fitzgerald classics and discover those I’ve never read. When I tracked down this Coraline Bickford-Smith designed collection, my heart about stopped. With prices ranging from $15-25 each, it might take me a bit to collect them all, but you can guarantee their on my wish list.

sunglasses

Considering 1. I’m 22 years old and 2. I have never bought a pair of sunglasses that didn’t cost $12, I think it’s time I indulge myself with a nice pair. Firmoo is at the top of my list with this Tortoise style.

Okay, okay, I know I said I wouldn’t spend more money on my Spring Cleaning list, but how perfect would this look in my backyard?

Last, but not least, this beautiful Dog Eared ring. Do I need to explain why I love this ring so?

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06May / 2013

Surface Styling

As May is beginning to settle in and the pollen of April is beginning to subside, I wanted to focus on the finishing touches inside before I start on the outside. The other night, in a midnight energy burst, I completely rearranged my room. My main objective was to find room for my new dresser (more on this later!), however the end result was pretty astonishing. I completely opened up the space which made everything seem so much brighter.

Before I share the end result, there is something I’m stuck on-shelf & surface styling. All of this rearranging has left my bookshelf, sofa table, desk, nightstand, and dresser in a bit of a mess. I have a love for a beautifully styled shelf, but I also strongly believe in style having function. I swoon for this desk styling by Danielle Moss of The Every Girl, but where does she write?! I need my work space to be as clean and clutter-free as possible.

I also have a pretty dark room with no overhead light (woe is me), so lighting is pretty important. Placing a lamp on every single surface however, drives me up a wall. Add my TV, cable box, DVD player, and computer to the mix, and you’ve got me staring at my room for thirty minutes straight trying to figure out where to put what and trying not to pull out my hair.

Itching to get my room 100% completed and move onto the porch, I figured I should compile some of my favorite beautiful (& functional) styled shelves. Hopefully, this will churn up some inspiration for me, and Lord knows it’s better than me staring at my hot mess of a bedroom.

Source Unknown (If anyone know’s please comment or shoot me an email!)

Traditional Home

The Coveteur

High Street Market

Megan Gonzalez of Mae Mae Paperie Desk Styling by The Every Girl

I especially swoon over the desk styling of Megan Gonzalez of Mae Mae Paperie. It’s fun and functional, which is of the utmost importance to me. I believe the two hardest things to tackle when styling ANY surface is 1. to make functional use of the surface and 2. control the clutter. Tonight, I’m not leaving my room until I am finished styling every surface in my room, so wish me luck y’all!

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17Apr / 2013

Spring Cleaning: Backyard Inspiration

As I’ve mentioned (a trillion times), I’m swooning over Spring. However, I am NOT too happy with all of this pollen. I’m trying to be positive (pollen means things are flowering and blooming, right?!), yet it’s tough when your entire house/yard/porch/car/life is covered in a terrible yellow film that gives you migraine headaches and makes everything look terrible. C’mon April showers, rinse Atlanta off!

Another con to this pollen hoopla, is I can’t start on my yard until I’m positive all of my work won’t end up yellow. My townhouse is on a water well, which is AWESOME because we have no water bill, but there is a huge draw back of not having a hose-aka I can’t wash off the porch on a whim.

So, until the pollen subsides, all I can do is day dream. Luckily, I’m pretty good at that.

Clockwise///1. Terrain /// 2. Terri Brush Art /// 3. Alkemie /// 4. Martha Stewart /// 5. Shannon Eileen Blog ///

1. I was REALLY hoping to make a hammock work on my porch, but it’s just not realistic financially (those things are expensive!) or logistically (it would take up half the porch!). The swing from Terrain, however, is a simple DIY (hello, Home Depot) that won’t take up as much space.

2. I’m working turning an old mirror into a chalkboard for the back, so that will be a quick update, however the chandelier is really a wish list item right now. Unless I find something of perfection at Goodwill or a thrift shop, I’m not allowing myself to finance it. I do really want to find some similar wall planters to these, but again, I’m trying to make this update fairly cheap.

3. Curtains!! I know these will honestly make the space, but I’m trying to decide what the best option is. I looked at shower curtains, but they are usually $20 a pop their length isn’t ideal. I’m currently torn between these curtains from Ikea or just picking up drop clothes from Home Depot. The former is the cheaper (and in my opinion, better looking) option, however 1-they are the same curtains I use around my bed and 2-they are stark white, I’m nervous they’d get filthy QUICK. Advice?? Any other ideas??

4. Right now, we have two chairs out there pretty similar to these, but I really would love a table to go with them. Again, I need something at a reasonable price (or possible free!?).

5. I. am. loving. these. I don’t get a lot of sunlight in my yard though, any tips on what to grow that doesn’t need a lot of sun (or love)??

What are y’all’s yards looking like this Spring? Any tips on how to get rid of all that pollen sans hose??

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12Apr / 2013

Friday Five

Helllllooo everyone!

I am so smitten with the weather right now, it seems all I can do is daydream about being outside. Alas, this has killed my Spring Cleaning productivity, and my To Do list took a bit of a back seat while I spent the evenings running at the park, eating dinner on my porch, and watching my boyfriend, JTC’s intramural football games.

Can y’all believe I get to run in such a pretty park right smack dab in the middle of the city?!

However, last weekend I picked up an old dresser from my parent’s house that I am going to get to work on this weekend. It’s going to be a bit of a labor of love, as JTC said, “That thing is hideous.”

Through all my day dreaming and outdoor fun, these five posts have been keeping my inspired. Check em’ out!

The Every Girl: The Easy Way to Start Saving- The Every Girl is quickly becoming my favorite blog/site, I love how well-rounded their content is. This post really hits home as I’m currently trying to figure out the best system to pay my bills, pay off my student loans, save for the future, AND treat myself once in a blue moon. It’s so easy to get caught up in eating out with friends daily and splurging when I have opportunities to save. I love this post because it talks about Paying Yourself First-a method I TOTALLY recommend. (PS: Em for Marvelous ALSO has a really awesome series about saving money, Marvelous Money)

Saffron Avenue: Going For it- I love any post about doing your own thing and OWNING it. I’m constantly thinking about what my future looks like career-wise, and I’m always looking for inspiration. Not to mention, Angela’s website design is phenomenal. I totally recommend signing up for her Wait List if you’re in the market!

Oh Happy Day: Number Shaped Envelope Surprise-It’s no secret I love everything that Oh Happy Day comes up with. This one in particular I can’t wait to actually execute for my momma’s birthday this year. I can’t wait to share how it goes

A Life’s Design: Colorful Spring- Are y’all sick of me talking about how much I love Spring yet? Okay, you can boycott me, but only after you check out this pretty post.

Southern Weddings: Early Spring South Carolina Wedding - It’s funny how this little blog started out as a wedding inspiration blog, but I hardly get the chance to put any on here any more. THIS wedding however, stole my heart. Maybe it has something to do with the baby lambs.

Photo by: Landon Jacob