geometric light | favorite things | statement earrings | painting | darker shades | wine design

I have this Monday and Tuesday off for fall break, so I'm currently at home visiting family. Last week was full of midterm project deadlines for me, so I've been enjoying having a little more free time now that all of that is over. I'm especially grateful that my senior capstone project is now complete and off my plate, so I've been allowing myself a little time to relax and catch up on simple things like laundry and decorating for Halloween. I still have 3 painting projects due next Thursday, but luckily painting is my jam and I learned how to churn out painting after painting during AP Art in high school.

As most of you probably know, the weather we've been getting in North Carolina has been nothing but rainy for about 2 weeks now. As much as I feel for those who are negatively(and in some places, tragically) affected by this hurricane season, I can't help but love these rainy days we've been getting. I feel totally in my element and have enjoyed spending time inside snuggled up with cups of coffee and my art. However, I know my productivity will be much higher once the sun starts shining again, and I look forward to days when it's a little easier to get out of bed.

10 things.

10 things I'm thankful for this week:

1. the start of fall
2. a rainy weekend at work, which gave me a slow break from a super  fast week
3. wearing boots again (with cozy socks!)
4. pumpkin donuts
5. getting back into drinking red wine on chilly nights
6. hearing two different artists speak in two of my classes (it was so refreshing to sit back, relax, and learn in class instead of just getting more deadlines thrown at me)
7. getting back into the gym after taking a week off
8. hearing Lonnie say "Do you want Chick-fil-a?"
9. wearing simple shirts with a statement necklace, jeans, and cute shoes for easy, chic outfits (this time of year is the best for getting dressed!)
10. hint of lime chips with guacamole

moodboard monday.

coral eyeshadow | good energy | california cacti | tassel wall hanging | bell-sleeve dress | shiny curtain

My senior capstone project deadline is swiftly approaching, so this week is going to be a crazy one. I'm still recovering from the crazy week I had last week, so I'm trying really hard to avoid inevitable burnout this week. Luckily, after this project is over, my load should lighten quite a bit, so I'm trying to just push through all of the stress and tackle everything head on. I've found a lot of success through simply doing the work and hustling instead of worrying, and this is a tactic I'd like to keep implementing.

I've also found that creativity only fuels more creativity. Maya Angelou had it right, "the more you use, the more you have." I've definitely been feeling my creative side flourish the more time I spend feeding it. The work I'm doing in new media inspires my painting projects, and my photography projects are only enhancing my new media skills. And with as little free time as I have, I'm feeling super blessed that the majority of the time I do have is being spent doing what I love, which is creating. I'm trying to maintain that perspective and soak up this time spent on projects that I get to choose and have fun with, instead of focusing on all the Netflix I'm not watching or all of the relaxing I'm not doing.

10 things.

10 things I'm thankful for this week:

1. spending Monday morning in bed drinking coffee with my love; we had this daily ritual going last year when it was cold out and we were both drinking hot coffee at home, and now that the weather has cooled down a bit, we're starting to pick it back up and it is my FAVORITE thing
2. seeing my group's senior capstone project come together and getting positive feedback from the professor on our prototype; IT'S ALL HAPPENING
3. adventuring out onto location for this said project and running across a beautiful place on campus with views of downtown
4. fashion week snapchat stories and instagram posts
5. giving myself the week off from workouts to rest and relax after catching a cold
6. chicken noodle soup and Club crackers
7. KILLIN IT on my mass communications exam/having one class out of the 4 I'm taking that I don't have to stress too hard about since it's a 101 course
8. my wonderful assistant manager at work let me leave early Tuesday since I was sick, bought me pizza today since she wanted me to split it with her, and helped me get time off so I could film capstone tomorrow! I've had such a tough week, and she's made it way easier in so many ways.
9. hanging out with my roommate Laura and bonding with her by watching Labyrinth together, which is her favorite movie, and I've been meaning to see anyway since I never have before
10. my little sister, for being born on this day 19 years ago. Happy Birthday, Sarah!

moodboard monday.

white palms | so far | cacti sculptures | pop bowl | black and white stripes | black palms

Waking up first thing on a Monday morning with a terrible cold led to a day that was not nearly as productive as it should've been. I skipped my morning class to take pictures for photo and made a few collages for an upcoming painting assignment. I made it to my afternoon class because it was super important, but after that, I gave up and landed on the couch where I've been pretty much all night. 

I'm facing a pretty busy week ahead, so I'm trying not to let the poor timing of this cold get the better of me. Instead, I'm trying to take it as a sign to slow down, eat some soup, and drink some tea. I've been working extremely hard between work and school, so I'm not going to argue with my body's plea to take some time out of my busy schedule to take care of myself.

10 things.

10 things in thankful for this week:

1. having Labor Day off for the first time since starting college!
2. spending the Sunday before Labor Day outside on a patio eating Jamaican barbecue for brunch
3. turning in one painting and then painting a quick gestural self-portrait in class the same day. It's been so much work, but I'm remembering what it's like to make physical art you can hold in your hands afterward and it is AWESOME.
4. taking the Bulldog Nation meeting to a Japanese hibachi restaurant
5. going into the photo critique thinking my print wasn't good at all, but getting awesome feedback on it
6. having to go to Michael's for art supplies and spending more time looking at the Halloween decorations
7. finding cute, cheap office supplies in Target's dollar section
8. Nicki Minaj
9. forgetting to eat breakfast and picking up an everything bagel topped with avocado at Rosetta's on campus
10. sunflowers

moodboard monday.

roller skates | what the heart wants | colors of pearls | watercolor napkins | sea sparkle | cactus embroidery

Today is the first day I've had off from school for Labor Day since I've been at college. Not only that, but it's also the first day I've had off from both work and school since Senior Year has started. With that being said, I had a massive list of things to get done today and accomplished maybe half of them, at best. I have plenty of time to buckle down and get shit done tomorrow (and every other day this week), so I'm trying not to beat myself up about it and instead just enjoy the official last day of summer.

I went out to dinner with friends for a Bulldog Nation meeting, and now I'm about to curl on the couch with the last little bit of rosé I have in the fridge as I gather photo references, color schemes, and inspiration for a few upcoming projects I have going on in the hopes that I can accomplish more from my to-do list. Creative work is really so time consuming from the planning process to the end result, and even though I didn't get a ton of actual work done today, I want to at least go to bed feeling good and inspired by the work week ahead instead of dreading it.

10 things.

10 things I'm thankful for this week:

1. OPI polish in You Don't Know Jacques, the perfect into to fall color
2. seeing the sun set over the mountains on my way home from the gym
3. quality time with Lonnie, who started a new serving job at Altamont Brewery  in West Asheville
4. a super sale at my work, and buying a cute maxi dress for only $10!
5. Hit Record with Joseph Gordon-Levitt on Netflix (it's so freaking inspiring to a creative like me, especially since most of the work is New Media type of stuff. I highly recommend if you haven't seen it yet to check out an episode.)
6. getting back into painting projects, even if I am so rusty it makes me sad
7. DEVELOPING MY FIRST PHOTOS EVER BY MYSELF YAY
8. the dude at Moe's put an extra side of queso in the bag
9. catching up with my little sister over the phone, it feels so good to be friends now instead of just siblings 
10. September weather is seriously THE BEST and I've been wearing dresses pretty much every single day

moodboard monday.

dresser | mean girls quote | blue wallpaper | girls | metallic d'orsay flats | DIY face mist 

This week, I'm really focused on powering through assignments and projects without letting the stress get to me. I'm off to a good start, and I don't want to ruin my progress by falling into a slump as soon as the weather cools down. It's already starting to feel like early fall here, and I'm taking it all in and admiring the way things are changing, instead of freaking out about time moving so fast and winter arriving so quickly.

I'm on my way to the studio to work on a painting project, and I'm already falling back in love with color again. I spot lovely schemes everywhere I go, and I'm looking for more ways I can bring color into my life. Painting is #1 on that list, and getting back into the flow of art deadlines feels more natural to me than anything else. I'm looking forward to upcoming assignments instead of dreading them.

10 things.

1. hauling ASS this past week. I'm on such a huge back-to-school kick that I've been knocking out my to-do list like it's nothing. Granted, they are full of things like "sketch a canvas to prepare for painting, go to Target for pretty folders and mascara, and shoot an entire roll of film," but still, I'm pretty impressed with how hard I've been working. And even though it's really hard work, I've truly missed creating daily and being busy.
2. on that note, in my Photography class this week, we processed our film into negatives. This week, we'll actually be developing it into prints, but processing the film itself was so much fun. It was super tricky but so rewarding to see a full sheet of negatives I've taken and processed all by myself.
3. girls night out to say goodbye to our lovely friend Emma, who left for Spain today
4. on that note, my first moscow mule was consumed outside at The Southern in downtown Asheville underneath twinkle lights on a cool summer night (did I do that one right?? I feel like I did)
5. I only had to buy 4 colors for my painting class, and the professor provided us with 6! YAY free paint!
6. my friend Brandon turned 21 and all of our friends went out to celebrate and fun times were had. Yay college!
7. my only real homework to do this week is to color in half of a painting which consists of geometric shapes that I've already sketched out, so basically it's like adult coloring. I'm pumped.
8. despite my super hectic schedule, I accomplished my goal of working out 3 times this week
9. our new roommate Laura loved our other roommate's snakes so much, she bought a baby one. YAY BABY SNAKES!
10. after seeing the Halloween decorations at Michael's, the pumpkin donuts at Dunkin, and all of our gorgeous sweaters and wine-colored handbags at work, I am getting really excited for the fall, which is making the end of summer much sweeter than bittersweet.

moodboard monday.

banana ampersand | half moon shades | bathroom | DIY grid planters | no bad vibes | minimal nikes

I gave myself a week off from the blog last week to settle into my new routine now that school has started. So far, I'm feeling super inspired by the creative courses I'm taking, especially my black-and-white photography class, where my homework was simply to go out and shoot a whole roll of film in order to get to know our cameras better.

This semester, I really want to focus on just doing the work and not stressing too much about the things I can't control. I've been hauling ass all week trying to stay on top of my classes along with working part time, and the feeling I'm getting now is way more rewarding than the one that I've gotten after sitting on my couch and watching Netflix all summer. Right now, I'm trying to not focus too much on the overwhelming amount of work I'll be doing this semester, but instead to focus on how good it feels to pump out good work week after week. The days spent creating, brainstorming, planning, exercising, and becoming are the days I want to fill up my weeks from here on out.

10 things.

10 things I'm thankful for this week:

1. pool parties
2. mimosas outside on a Sunday afternoon
3. pickle popcorn from Trader Joe's (OMG SO GOOD)
4. this tassel necklace from my work, the perfect summer accessory
5. toasted coconut macaroon ice cream from The Hop
6. toes in the water at Ledges Park
7. thin crust veggie pizza, homemade by Lonnie
8. cashmere vanilla shaving cream
9. dat refund check from school
10. enjoying the last little bit of summer vacation

moodboard monday.

macramé lantern | donuts | neon ice cream cone | salted watermelon margarita popsicles | bright summer style | blue bathroom tile

Next Monday, classes start so this week marks the last week of summer break. Instead of spending the week totally bummed out, I want to allow myself to indulge a little this week. I expect lots of sleeping in, eating donuts, drinking white wine, spending afternoons outside to soak up the late sunshine, and wearing bright happy colors. It is still summer after all, and just because I'll have a schedule full of classes, it doesn't mean fall is here already.

It also doesn't hurt that my semester coming up will be full of art and new media classes. I've been on a huge creative kick lately trying to get pumped up for what is sure to be a design-heavy school year. I love the way that as a creative, once I start to open my eyes and pay attention to the world around me, everything starts to be inspiring. I'm finding colors and textures everywhere, and in consequence, I've been cracking open my art journal almost daily to practice sketching and painting with watercolors in order to hopefully gain back some of my skills in time for the painting class I'm taking. I haven't had a traditional art course since freshman year, so I'm worried about embarrassing myself during critiques. Luckily for me, photography and painting are my comfort zones, and getting back in the practice of both feels so natural and rewarding.

10 things.

10 things I'm thankful for this week:

1. journaling my way out of a terrible mood I woke up in (it's so true that writing things down really helps put them in perspective!)
2. getting along with our new roommate! He's moved in and has two pet snakes, which have found a nice home in the living room. I'm obsessed with them, and I love having little friends to keep an eye on in the house since we're not allowed to have cats or dogs.
3. feeling some summertime sadness after realizing that there's only one week left before school starts, and then immediately going outside to workout instead of going to the gym in order to shake the sinking feeling. I went to a nearby park that has access to the French Broad River (and also a killer view) and just ran around and did squats and lunges until I absolutely wore myself out. I ended up WAY overdoing it and was so sore for three days straight (I literally had trouble walking up and down stairs), so I guess it was a success.
4. wearing this silver bracelet with my gold boyfriend watch and feeling so #fresh
5. buying Lonnie a cookie cake for his birthday (we both prefer it over regular cake) and therefore having a cookie cake in the fridge practically all week
6. working mostly day shifts this week and feeling good about not wasting the day waiting on dreading work
7. Lonnie and I have been working our asses off on making the apartment feel more like a home. He hung some pictures in the living room (also a super chic #surfboard) and a mirror in the bedroom, and I've been keeping things tidy and refusing to let the dishes pile up.
8. dealing with a stressful situation by going for a run (always so thankful for workouts)
9. margaritas with salt
10. finding out that the photography class I'm taking this semester is actually a black and white film class and the old 35mm SLR camera I already own is exactly what the professor put on the supplies list. I'm so excited for the excuse to break it out and start shooting film again, since I've actually been meaning to do this all summer.

camping trip.

As I mentioned in Monday's post, Lonnie and I went on an overnight camping trip for his birthday. We decided the best camping method for us was to drive around Pisgah National Forest and park at one of their several roadside camping areas, which meant that we wouldn't be in a campground, but we also didn't have to hike to get to our tent-pad and fire pit. We ended up finding a really good spot, with enough space to park the car off the road closer to the tent. The site was close to a babbling creek, which we later found out was more than likely a part of a larger river that we could easily access by driving a few minutes down the road. Our site also had a trail we could hike, and there were plenty of other trails nearby.

S'mores were assembled and eaten, and hotdogs were grilled over the fire. The weather the whole trip was some of the most gorgeous we've had all summer. Yellow monarch butterflies breezed by as we set up camp and gathered firewood. At night, fireflies started to appear one-by-one and the stars tagged along. The main focus of the trip was to get away from the city and the traffic and the people, and in that sense it was a total success. Time passed without knowing what hour it was. We didn't have any service, so the only photos I took were on my camera and none were shared on Instagram. Instead, we shared quiet moments together, listening to the stream and the cicadas.

Looking back, this little camping trip highlighted that sticky-sweet deep summertime feeling that really only lives in the tail-end of the season, and I'm so thankful for that. Living in the mountains for this past summer has been very different than the others I've known growing up, the ones spent at the beach and by the pool. This summer has felt less like a big long vacation and more like summer camp, especially with it being my first summer not living at home. None of this is bad, especially considering that I never went to summer camp as a kid. Overall, I'm thankful for the ways that I've grown, been bit by the adventure bug, and gained independence, and this little weekend getaway was just what I needed to take the time to reflect on those things.

moodboard monday.

expectation vs. appreciation | pink rock | loving touch | more rosé | summer uniform | linen dress

This past weekend was Lonnie's birthday, so to celebrate we went on an overnight camping trip. It was so much fun and I loved getting away to spend some quality one-on-one time with my man. I'll share more pictures and details later, but for now, I'm feeling inspired by the laid-back, easy vibe that goes hand-in-hand with a weekend in the woods. I actually didn't wear makeup all weekend (normal for most people who are camping, but if you know me at all, you're probably staring at your computer screen right now in total shock because I always, always wear makeup...even to the gym), and in doing so, I grew a new appreciation for leaving behind everyday routines and comforts. It was definitely freeing to shed that second skin, splash some refreshing spring water on my face, and just run along without worrying about how I looked or having Lonnie wait on me to get ready. This week, I'm looking for other ways I can shed unnecessary routines or products in an attempt to find a little more freedom in my day-to-day life. I'm looking forward to wearing soft, easy fabrics, dainty jewelry, and maybe even skipping eyeliner or foundation.

10 things.

10 things I'm thankful for this week:

1. rewatching Silence of the Lambs on a rainy day
2. phone calls from home, and catching up with both my mom and best friend Whitney
3. finding the perfect pink polish at T.J. Maxx
4. also finding ready-to-brew iced coffee bags
5. convincing Lonnie to take down one set of blinds in the bedroom, and now having a nice view of a tree outside from bed
6. another spontaneous parkway trip (this one led us to a small southern town which was full of color and inspiration)
7. going so hard at the gym I've been sore for 2 days straight
8. starting to clean the apartment from top to bottom
9. staying in and ordering our favorite pizza; pepperoni and pepperoncini
10. looking at my school schedule for next year and realizing that most of my time will be spent creating (I have one new media class, one painting, and one photography class!)

Just a little note, I will most likely start posting these 10 Things on Saturdays instead of Fridays (but yes, I'm aware today is Sunday. my schedule has been a little off lately.) I'm hoping that this minor shift will give me enough time to gather pictures and really recap on the week in its entirety. 

moodboard monday.

popcorn party | YES to this | flamingo dress | tassel blanket | dream bathroom | rosé all day

This week, I'm feeling a lot better about my living situation. Simply knowing that I'll be staying put exactly where I am is enough to comfort me, and it definitely doesn't hurt that we've gotten many applicants interested in becoming roommates. This week will be spent cleaning and purging the apartment as we prepare for new people to take a look and move in, and I'm actually really looking forward to it. All summer, I've tried to make this place a home but it's been really difficult to considering the fact that I just came into the place as a 4th additional person. Now, Lonnie and I have a chance to clean the slate(literally speaking, in a way), and reorganize everything in the way that he and I like. I'm now feeling more excited than scared for what's ahead; new opportunities, connections, and memories are expected and welcome.

I'm feeling pink this week. Lighthearted, comforting, and fun. I find that I always waste time worrying about what's ahead or what I missed out on, instead of just focusing on being happy where I'm at. Pink is a very in the moment color. It is here. It is ready to party. I love pink. (I also watched Clueless yesterday since it turned 20 years old, and I'm probably just feeling super inspired by Cher's unbreakable spirit and can-do attitude. She's so fab.)

10 things.

10 things I'm thankful for this week:

1. living so close to beautiful mountain views (that first pic was taken on the way to Walmart, lol)
2. spending a late morning in bed relaxing in the new robe I bought to wear during summer
3. taking my workout outside to Beaver Lake (such a beautiful place so close to me! I will definitely be returning sometime soon with my camera for a little photo excursion)
4. Starbucks' new cold brew
5. Grace and Frankie on Netflix (shout-out to my Aunt for the recommendation, I am OBSESSED with this show)
6. summer berries
7. summer sunsets
8. waking up to a thunderstorm one morning when I had an early shift (to me, nothing is more calming in the mornings than pouring down rain)
9. after exploring all of our options, Lonnie and I have decided to stay put in our current apartment and have several plans to fix the place up before we find new roommates, since it's the perfect time and excuse to move some things around and make the place feel more like home
10. one night after work this week, on a whim, Lonnie grilled me up a peanut butter and banana sandwich in the form of a quesadilla with two tortillas instead of bread, and it was the BEST EVER

moodboard monday.

avocado & egg toast | true self | simple southwestern decor | slushy coconut mint margarita | yoga with lily aldridge | summer style

This week is the week where my boyfriend and I have to buckle down and figure out our living situation. Our lease is up in August, and one of our roommates is moving out, so now is the perfect time to try to find a new place because our current apartment is very much less than perfect. However, it is super cheap and close to school and downtown, so there's a very big chance we may stay and just try to find a new roommate. The whole situation is super stressful, but I'm trying not to sweat things too much and to embrace the current season of life that I'm in.

After meeting two of my college besties for coffee(one of whom is about to leave for a semester abroad in Spain in August!), I realized how bittersweet this last year of college is and how important these challenging, crappy apartment, ramen for dinner days are to my overall growth and well-being. Absolutely nothing is certain or set in stone, and I'm trying to find both a comfort and an excitement in this ever-changing place. Sticking to what I know and focusing on simplifying is my go-to method for dealing with all of this change. This week, I want to try not to overthink things and to stay true to myself and what works best for me.

10 things.

10 things I'm thankful for this week:

1. going to Grandfather Mountain with my family for our annual trip to celebrate my dad's birthday yesterday (which is also the reason this post is a day late. Sorry, y'all!)
2. taking Blue Ridge home and stopping by Linville Falls
3. it's actually been rainy all week, but we were blessed with the most beautiful sunny weather yesterday
4. shrimp tacos
5. on a whim, decided to go to yoga on Wednesday evening (I needed those deep stretches so bad!)
6. having a quiet breakfast in bed just as it started to pour down rain
7. combating laziness/being a homebody with cleaning the apartment
8. getting a text from my college bestie saying that she will be visiting tomorrow!
9. colorful emojis
10. feeling strong and starting to really love my body

hike to crabtree falls.

Lonnie and I had a shared day off last week, so we decided to make another trip up to Blue Ridge. We drove until we got to the Crabtree Falls trailhead and decided to give it a shot. The trail starts out really easy since it's mostly downhill to get to the falls. The greenery was gorgeous and little light purple flowers seemed to follow us the whole way. The falls themselves are massive, the grandest ones I've ever seen. It was definitely an incredible tiny journey, and I'm so glad we went. Though the hike back from the falls was pretty strenuous, I enjoyed the workout and feeling sore the next day was a nice change from how lazy I've been feeling lately.

moodboard monday.

plant stand | lobster rolls | modern bathroom | printed skirt & chambray | july | summer shadows

Lately I've been feeling sucked into summer mode, where I've been giving into bad habits like sleeping in til almost noon and watching too much tv. Now that the 4th is over and July is in full swing, I want to start buckling down this week in order to spend my free time more wisely. I have a few tasks in mind I'd like to complete before school starts back in the fall, like finishing up an online portfolio and printing an album full of photos, so I'm hoping to wake up earlier and start making use out of every single day. I love summer and the magic that comes with beach vacations, fruity drinks, and travel adventures, but there's something to be said about the magic that comes with everyday summer, too. To me, this board captures that everyday summer magic, filled with late afternoon light, greenery, and soft, breezy fabrics.

10 things.

10 things I'm thankful for this week:

1. Lonnie surprising me with pizza and the best bottle of rum he could find (two of my very favorite things) to celebrate our 5 year anniversary
2. having a guy I can count on to always be loyal and loving
3. extra lime
4. hiking up to Crabtree Falls
5. My best friend Samm texted me to let me know she was in town for the day so I met her and her family for lunch at Early Girl and ice cream at The Hop
6. waking up slow with the late summer sun and re-watching Fried Green Tomatoes in bed
7. making brownies with Brandon on the rainiest day of the week
8. pressing flowers into sketchbooks
9. finally buckling down to achieve my goal of exercising 4 days this week instead of my usual 3
10. getting all dolled up for a date night out

moodboard monday.

california waves | state of mind | poolside watermelon | summer berries | reds & blues | pearl tassle earrings 

My family's annual beach trip always happens to fall the week before the official start of summer, and so it's always easy for me to get in a summertime kind of mood coming back from it. My legs are tan, my spirit is light, and my diet consists mainly of fresh fruit and ice cream. In my free time this week, I'm looking forward to becoming even more fully engulfed in summer by spending some time outside in the sun, relaxing a lot by watching a few old movies, and getting back into a real routine at the gym. 

10 things.

10 things I'm thankful for this week:

1. having a tan
2. buying new jersey sheets for summer
3. including plenty of fresh fruit in this week's groceries
4. getting back into art journaling(trying to do this at least once a week this summer)
5. really good ice cream
6. looking through vacation photos post-vacation
7. seeing Jaws for the first time ever in theaters with my dad for Father's Day
8. listening to old tunes that I haven't heard in a while
9. things are starting to really feel like summer around here
10. #lovewins

seaside vacation.

As promised, I'm sharing a few snapshots from my trip to the beach this past week. We visited my grandmother who lives at Holden Beach, and for her 79th birthday we took a day trip to Carolina Beach and Wilmington to go shopping and eat lunch. I've never spent much time at either place, so the day was exciting and fun for me. Carolina Beach is such a classic and colorful beach; I fell absolutely in love with it. We stopped at Britt's Donuts, and now eating fresh donuts on a boardwalk is my new favorite thing to do on vacation. I came back from my trip feeling so inspired by the bright punchy colors and old school vibes of these simple coastal towns. I'm so glad I have these pictures to remember everything by, and I love the feeling that they capture exactly what summer is all about.