Because I'm obsessed with HGTV.

I love HGTV;

it's like the "food network"

but for design nerds instead of foodies.

Do I lose sleep at night when I stay up to watch these shows??

Yes, yes I do.

My faves are "Dear Genevieve"

and "Secrets From a Stylist"

After I watch them I long for my own space to  decorate and paint and arrange.

Well, I recently moved into a new apartment.

I have my own new room,

and for the first time in my life...

my own bathroom !!

Therefore, I HAD seize hold of this opportunity to design!

...

I really love bookshelves, and plan on having BIG, TALL ones someday,

to hold all my coffee table and childrens books

(but for now this cute little one with my DVD's on it will suffice)

My "office" from 8-12am!

I'm a little in love with it...

Updated picture boards

Seriously,

the most comfy bed in the world...

there are those "egg crate" mattress covers on sale at Target...

and you need to go get one.  Trust me.

Cork boards $5 at Walmart,

Pins $4 at Walmart,

being able to hang up inspiring cards and notes,

priceless.

haha

But for reals though...

Way inexpensive drawer set from Target,

but I love the mid-century vibe it's givin' off

(see how design nerdy I can be??)

it especially makes me happy topped with the 

"let them eat cake" vase 

that my mom gave me for Christmas last year!

I know,

it's just a bathroom.

But I'm so excited about it...

A little reminder of Parisian travels...

I finally framed this print from the Orsay Museum...

in a $2 frame from Goodwill!!

Hooray for excellent deals!

And that soap dish is probably the only thing 

I think I'll ever buy from Anthropologie.

Although, if I had money to burn, I'd buy everything.

And that mirror and vase are both presents;

I have friends and family who know me so well!

Favorite painting... and a fireplace !!!

Sooo luxurious.

"Dear Genevieve",

Thanks for the classy inspiration!!

Grateful for:

not having to spend $200 in repairs for my car,

coupons for my gluten free 'zone' bars,

wifi at starbucks,

stake conference,

baking chocolate chip cookies on Sunday afternoons,

a year subscription to a gluten free magazine

from my dearest friend who's moved to Utah,

chats on the phone with friends from Virginia to California,

lunch dates with Grandma CC,

dinner dates with my favorite people,

my very own DVD of "Cinderella"

(the one with Brandy and Whitney Houston of course),

the new Mumford & Sons CD,

my ukulele,

my comfy bed/8 full hours of sleep

and, the simple truths of the Book of Mormon

Life is good.

Photo Project

So I ended my last post with a quote that I just love so much, I think I'll start this post with the quote just one more time:

"Creation is a better means of self-expression than possession; it is through creating, not possessing, that life is revealed."  -Vida Dutton Scrudder

I LOVE this.  I am a big fan of buying things with the intent to alter and create something with them.  I also equally enjoy re-purposing old things and concocting new creations with them.  It is one of the things that brings me the most satisfaction in life.  That process is what calms me down and keeps me from unravelling from the stress of my day-to-day routine.  I forget how much I need it most of the time, but every once in a while, I do take the time to to work on a project... here's the latest.  It's been in the works for a loooong time.

A collage of my very favorite photos...

Inspired by pinterest of course.

But instead of expensive IKEA magnet boards,

I used a canvas and some little bitty pins.

And photos and trinkets from my trips throughout the years.

And sharpies of course!! (I'm super obsessed)

I have a picture from every trip I've been on,

and then photos of some of the people that inspire me the most;

like my handsome cowboy daddy,

and my beautiful mom and aunt Celia.

And my gorgeous Grandma CC...

And my absolutely lovely Grandma Rosie.

And some things I've picked up in some sweet places.

(this is from Versailles)

I feel like my room is now complete.

It's filled with reminders of the things that mean the most to me.

Like this newly framed photo of my fam.

And John Lennon has joined all the rest of the Beatles on my wall.

Bing Crosby, Grace Kelly and Frank Sinatra also invited themselves to the party.

Party with my ukulele of course.

Ahhh... I am grateful for inexpensive ways to create and design and decorate.  I would be a basket case with out them!!

Grateful for: The chance to visit my family in California next weekend!  I've only been to the airport LAX on my way to other places, so I'm excited to actually have a Californian experience.  Aaand, take a little weekend trip with my mom.  Cuz she's definitely the coolest.