Top Secret...

I've been sworn to absolute secrecy about the source. But hopefully in a few weeks I can share {Megan just say the word!!!} this amazing heaven on the world wide webs {hines??}.

Anywho...

Can someone buy one of these for me??

If these walls could talk...

One of my dear friends is an artist at heart. Literally. The girl went to college in Italy to become an art conservationist {is that the correct terminology??}. Best part is, she's by far the most down to earth person you'll ever meet. Not pretentious. Not the typical "I'm a artist so I'm intellectually on a different level than you." Just a simple, fun, crazy but sweet girl.

The other day, I asked her how much time she spends painting. And by that, I meant in a creative way, not in a "restore the Mona Lisa" kind of way. Apparantly, she has semi-abandoned her creative outlet because it became somewhat of a chore and less of a joy. However, she promised, she can re-create ANYTHING!

Well if you know me, you know exactly how the wheels in my head started turning. I am ALWAYS on the hunt for art. But let's be honest here...art doesn't come cheap. And right now, there is just no room in the budget for a $5000 painting. Believe me, if I could, I would. I'm a firm believer in buying investment items. The gifts that keep on giving, if you get my drift. But just like you won't see designer bags hanging in my closet {yet}, you won't see expensive art hanging on my walls.

So when she told me this, I just about flipped. Especially the part where she offered to recreate any painting of my choosing. Oh holy moly, where do I even begin?? Visions of abstract paintings literally started flying through my head. At this point I'm imagining a HUGE paiting to go over the wall behind my sofa. Probably one so big, I'll have to have the canvas custome made. And I'm seeing something very simplistic but one that will make a statement.


Literally something like this, just a different color pallette...

And then I got to thinking about the rest of the condo. Not one picture has been hung {sorry Hines, the banschee original will be the ABSOLUTE FIRST to be hung as soon as I buy some nails}. These walls are bare. Literally.

Through the years, I've collected framses and art of all sorts, but just like my decorating style, there is no uniform thread that runs through. Just a bunch of things that I like. Items that caught my eye at some point and were added to the collection. So with all these things, I now have the challenge of placing them somewhere.

I've always been intrigued by the idea of random photo collage wall, if you will. Actually, my grandmother had one in her living room, although it literally was that...random photo collage. No order or design to it. Just each time she was given a framed family picture of framed 2nd grade shot, it went up on the wall where there was room. It was chaotic and overwhelming, but it was hers. I'll always think of her when I see this design idea in magazines.

So, I want to start a wall. I'm not sure where yet, but I know its somethign I will love.

What are your thoughts?? I'ld love to hear from you!!

Help. Me. Rhonda. ...

After a bland heated up meal of chicken and rice for lunch {budget and healthy...a guarantee for disaster but a promise at a slimmer waistline}, I decided to take a break from the cubicle and drove over to Books a Million. Its always been a silly thing I do. Whenver I'm on the hunt for free entertainment, I plop down in those big comfy chairs with my arms piled high with magazines. Yep. I'm that girl. I can literally stay for at least 2 hours. And now I've just solidified the fact that I'm a complete loser.

Well today, I only had time to fly through a tattered US Weekly {I'm guessing someone else knows this secret freebie} and barely skim this month's copy of House Beautiful. To be honest, I went on Friday, knowing that it has to be that time...new issue time!! Well, after a conversation with a very un-informed sales associate, I sadly realized I was a little ahead of the game.

But today, however, I was right on time. I literally spent 30 seconds looking through it because I was on the phone with a friend. So tomorrow, I know EXACTLY what I'm doing over lunch. Going back to read the magazine cover to cover and stare at these beauties...

Summer Treat...

I have a confession to make. I have a slight obsession with a meal. The love affair started several weeks ago when I was living in a hotel for the week. Obviously, I had to eat basically every meal out. That in itself was disgusting and I probably gained a temporary 5lbs that week. By day 2, I was completely over ordering all my meals, so I decided it was time to start getting a little healthier. The Chickfila 50 feet from my office was not helping my cause. But I was pleasantly surprised when I went out on a whim and got the fruit and yogurt parfait for breakfast in lieu of the chicken biscuit {I know...there are tons of people booing me right now}. Anyway, it was delicious and I got it for breakfast the rest of the week.

Now that I'm settled in, I've began making my own version and treating myself to it for breakfast or maybe if I'm craving something sweet.

{Sorry for the bad pictures...the SLR is in my car} A mixture of fat free vanilla yogurt, low fat granola, strawberries and blueberries...

Absolutely pure heaven. Go make yourself a bowl. You won't be disappointed...I promise!!!

Summer List...

I've spent the whole weekend being lazy by the pool, soaking up as much sun as I can. I'm not going to lie...I feel like I live in a resort. Yesterday, a friend from college came to visit for the day and she said,"who needs a vacation when you live here?" So on the weekends, I pretty much stay in vacation mode.

While I haven't done any shopping in quite some time, I've compiled a list of things I would like to have before the summer is over.

I have Stella and Dot earrings almost identical to these, but in my opinion, you can't have too many pairs of simple designs like this. The other day, I had on a pair somewhat similar and a girl in my condo randomly said to me, "those earrings aren't By Boe are they?" Well they were, and that convo started a fun friendship. The point is, it has been my experience that something simple like this will really actually amp up an outfit.
Last Saturday we were at the pool and this extremely stylish 50 something man was sporting a pair of these. Now, I've had my eyes on these for some time, but just haven't bit the bullet and purchased yet. Since he was part of our marathon round of cornhole, I felt comfortable enough to ask if I might be able to try them on. I did and fell in love. He then proceeded to start telling Ry how men are to buy women lots of gifts. It got awkward. I walked away. And I'm pretty sure I'll be the one buying.

And to pay homage to my old residence, who doesn't love a pair of jean shorts?? TOTALLY KIDDING!! I actually like the top here!!

Party Over...

You have to be grateful for the type of friend who will call you out on your pity party. I really wasn't even having one, probably just sharing a little too much, when I got a message from a friend asking if I'm ok. And the answer is, Yes, I'm just fine! Big life transitions bring those tye of moments.

Anyway, she has a knack for pulling me out of my funk {remember the time I went through the wet hair and mismatched outfit phase...it was her who brought it to my attention. Funny story actually}.

So, this one's for you Hines.

A post with some bright cheery rooms...just what I need to jump start me. That and my trip to the pool for the afternoon that I'm about to make.

Another one....

If you've been following my blog , you'll know that every now and then, I post a heavy one. And by that, I mean that its not a picture perfect snapshot of life. Let's be honest here, life isn't always lived through rose colored glasses. In fact, I think it rarely is. That is the beauty of blogging is that it is an escape from this harsh world and a way to be positive when negativity is coming at you from every angle.

Anyway. Tonight, my heart is starting to sink a little bit. You know the times that you are just on cloud nine and the whole time in the back of your head you're just waiting on the bomb to go off? You know that moments that are so perfect only last a little while. What goes up, must come down. Its the law of gravity and the law of life. Its filled with good times and bad ones too. Easy times and hard ones too. But outside of the peaks and the valleys are the bits of time that are neither horrible nor wonderful. They're merely life. That everyday mediocre, get through the day, make it through with a few laughs and go to bed happy.

The last year was spent mostly in the pit for me. All that time, I just kept waiting and waiting and waiting to climb out of that deep dark despair. I kept waiting on my time to shine. Waiting for something decent to happen to me. I wasn't even asking for excellence, simply something positive. Time went on and everything stood at a stand still for a while. And I one day realized, I was no longer in that pit, but rather, simply driving on the flat land also known as every day life. For a while there, I was okay with this. At least it wasn't where I'ld been before. And so, I became content with what most would call normal.

And then out of nowhere, opportunities started coming my way to be able to live out my life long dream. To live in a city full of life. A big city busting at the seems with energy and people who are on the same journey in life that I'm on. Not that there is anything wrong with the way that most people my age I know live, but I can't relate to my friends who are married with kids. Believe me, I want that life...eventually...just not now. I would imagine that most people think I must be some type of martian for saying this. Its the southern way of life. At 26 years old, if you are still single, go ahead and send in your picture to the company who manufactures the card game Old Maid. But I refuse to buy into this. I really am glad that I have the freedom to live out the dreams I've always worked towards. To be able to up and move in a heart beat to pursue these dreams. To have the world at my fingertips and have no idea where or who I'll end up with. Its exhilierating just thinking about it. And that is just me.

So now that the dust is settling and I'm finally figuring out this place, this dark cloud has started to move my way and is just waiting to rain on my parade. You ever feel like that? You ever feel like just saying to the man in red downstairs, "You know what. You aren't going to ruin this for me! You can keep trying as much as you want, but I'm not budging. So you might as well take your party elsewhere." I wish I could send him an email right now and let him know.

You think I'm crazy?? Well, my friends, its not insanity...its reality. And that reality is called spiritual warfare. Now, I'm not going to use this blog as a spiritual outreach. I like to keep it light around here. I'm passionate for my savior, but I'ld much rather talk about it that post about it. But this is one thing I do want to say. When you start to feel that dark cloud come your way...face it head on. Whip out the umbrella. Put on the rain boots. Because the truth is, its not going away for a while, but like every rain shower, eventually it moves on to somewhere else and the sun comes back out. And it will be sunny and beautiful again for a while, but you know that at some point, another storm will come. A tornado will come and wipe away everything. Lightning will cause everythign to get out of whack. Hail will come and put huge dents in things. But you always know that these storms are only temporary. And no I'm not talkign about the weather.

There, its done. The heavy post is over. More light ones to come...