I mentioned on Monday that this week, I'm making the big move into my boyfriend's apartment. Now, my boyfriend and I have been together for about 5 years now, and luckily that means that I've gotten to know the differences in our style pretty well. Not so luckily, I've learned that he and I are pretty much polar opposites when it comes to style. I'm very much modern glamour meets pops of color, and he's very much rustic minimalist. My boyfriend is very much a guy's guy, and I knew moving in I'd have to immediately tone down my over-the-top glitzy style (he also has a weird aversion to anything painted white, and I have the strong desire to paint everything white, so...problems).

Because of our differences in style and also because of my need to visualize and pre-plan everything, a while back, I made a private Pinterest board to try and find some kind of middle ground between our two styles. And I found that our styles mixed together is actually a pretty awesome mix of rustic, quirky, and modern. Lots of found objects(we'd always enjoyed thrifting and antiquing together), mixed in with modern furniture with clean lines, add in some natural elements, and then bring in cool art with warm, energizing pops of color, and somehow we have a meshed style that's all our own.

Now the Pinterest board I created was totally just a dream of sorts; I have much more realistic home decor expectations for the first apartment we share. However, I feel so much better going into this move knowing that our two styles can coexist successfully, and having a set visual in mind helps me organize what to bring in to this new shared space and what to leave out.

"our place" Pinterest board

pinterest favorites.

fall bouquet | playful cutouts | rose & gold packaging | pumpkin spice oatmeal | modern invites | dining room

I've had a hard week. Like a really, really hard week. Like a "Can this week just be over already?" week.
I honestly can't even recall a more challenging week in my recent past. But today is Friday and I survived. Cheers to that. Here's a little extra inspiration to push me in the right direction because I know that I for one could use it.

pinterest favorites.

anthropologie dress | gold type | palette | jar of blooms | berry lipstick | glitzy mosaic

These September days are some of my absolute favorites. I especially find an extra bit of inspiration as I get dressed and dolled up for each day during this time of year. I love the endless possibilities of color combos and layers that these in-between kind of days provide. Simple blouses with tailored jeans. A statement necklace with a classic pair of flats. Blazers, cardigans, skirts, and dresses. Crisp clean fabrics paired with soft warm sweaters. A nautical navy blue contrasted against a rich warm gold. A carefree topknot bun paired with a sultry berry lip.

Yes, there is some kind of magic in the space where these two very different seasons collide. And I find as a woman of many facets, a lover of both modern and timeless, these in-between days are where I am the most comfortable.

my Pinterest.

pinterest favorites.

DIY watercolor mug | dream hair | no grit, no pearl | snake candleholders | crystals | necklace

Today I started to really settle into my dorm room and college routine. Sundays are the best days for checking off those annoying tasks on your to-do list that you've been putting off all week, and today I did those things. I hung up bulletin boards and wall art, washed a load of laundry, wrote down the schedule for the group exercise classes on campus, and organized notebooks and folders for class.

Now I'm settling into bed with a cup of tea because I happened to catch the start of Beetlejuice just as it was coming on ABC Family. (um, SCORE.) I'm feeling ready for the week ahead and even more ready to start falling into some sort of a routine now that I'm back at school.

P.S. I'm also so looking forward to fall now that spooky things are starting to appear on my Pinterest feed. I love the warm, raw, gypsy vibe I'm getting from these pins.

my Pinterest.

pinterest favorites.

lime & sea salt cleaner | call of the sea | healthy beach snacks | day dress | sorbet pineapple boat | watermelon lips

Currently:
Listening to my Third Eye Blind playlist while packing for a mini beach trip that my sister, mom, and I are taking this weekend.
Getting super pumped about the school year coming up. (First year of college, I was freaking out and feeling so not ready to leave home. Fast forward to my third year, and I'm jealous of my bestie/suite-mate who's moving in 2 days before me.)
Wearing super simple jewelry and comfy tees.
Loving a bright pink lip.
Eating my weight in raspberries.
Feeling very intrigued by that lime + sea salt all purpose cleaning spray, but also feeling pretty convinced I'd love it and that my dream house would smell of nothing else.

my Pinterest.

pinterest favorites: born in the USA.

watercolor stars | chic stars and stripes | pigs in a blanket | red lips | american pie | gingham bikini

Happy 4th of July, y'all! I'll be spending the day with family, eating pounds and pounds of my dad's delicious cooking, and seeing fireworks at our local park.

pinterest favorites.

pink heels | reminder | glitzy stone rings | earl grey ice cream | neon nail polish | glam kitchen

Black, white, and neon is a total go-to for me, especially design-wise. It feels so fresh and modern without trying too hard. An all-time fave.

I spent all of today organizing, rearranging, planning, and checking off the things that have been on my to-do list for about a month. I'm getting less hours at my summer job, so I have a bunch of free time on my hands which I don't exactly know what to do with. It's always been so easy for me to fall in to a slump during summer breaks because I can't help but feel like no matter what I do, I'm wasting it away somehow. I also tend to be a real lazy homebody in the summertime, so filling my days with productive activities feels really good.

my Pinterest.

pinterest favorites: beach bound.

strawberry lime cucumber water | sun hat | aloha hotel | wedges | mantra

old school beach style | toes in the water | sunkissed bracelet | white lace

I've said it before and I'll say it again: Summer. Is. My. JAM.

It's finally starting to feel like summer around here as my sister graduated high school today! She's the youngest out of the three of us, so she's the last person in my immediate family to graduate high school. Tomorrow, I am heading to the beach first thing in the morning to kick off a week long celebratory vacation. Things will be quiet around here as I will also be taking a vacation from the blog. Have a great week, and I hope that you'll be embracing summer along with me now that June is in full swing!

my Pinterest.

pinterest favorites.

freckles | cactus cupcakes | key tags | denim on denim | calm down party | road trippin'

Tomorrow I'm taking a mini vacation to Asheville to visit my main squeeze. Things have been starting to heat up here in Concord, so I'm feeling the easy-going freedom that only road trips and sunny days can provide.

my Pinterest.

pinterest favorites.

earrings | twisted bun | honeycomb cookies | effortless style | reminder | modern rocking chair

In less than an hour, I will be off to Greensboro to go see Jake Owen with an old friend from high school. I'm super pumped and evidently feeling both ready and nostalgic for a classic southern summer.

By the way, I'm so obsessed with those honeycomb sugar cookies. I pinned them to three different boards and I want my wedding cake made out of them. They just seem so simple and awesome.

I'm also really jealous of anyone who can manage to pull off the whole "oh this old thing?" boyfriend jeans, t-shirt, and killer heels look. "Effortless" is a new word that I definitely want to start incorporating into my closet once summer starts heating up.

my Pinterest.

pinterest favorites: exam week.

this super easy way to manage your to-do list without getting overwhelmed. Also, my bestie recommended this app to me, and it's super simple, easy to use, and helpful.

these super cute sweatpants, for the library, gym, and lounging.

these ways to recharge without coffee. (as much as I love coffee, drinking 5+ cups a day during exam week may not be the healthiest option.)

these stretches that make for a deep sleep, because SLEEP IS IMPORTANT GUYS, REMEMBER? Also, that pin includes 10 yoga poses you can do in bed. If you can do them in bed, you can do them in a 4x4 dorm room. 

this list of 50 ways to take a break. (Binge-watching Netflix didn't make the list. Weird.)

And last but not least, these tips for how to clean everything.

What no one tells you before you come to college is how not only are you going to be filled to the eyeballs with stress from exams, but ALSO during the Spring Semester Exam Week, you'll have to pack up your entire dorm room and clean the damn thing from top to bottom. It's definitely the worst week of the year. You'll definitely call your mom with things like "How do I get Hi-Ci Fruit Punch out of carpet?" and "What do I use to clean the mirrors and windows when I forget to buy Windex?" It's not fun, guys. Hopefully this pin answers some of those questions for you.

It's that time of year again, y'all! 

Here is last year's compilation of Pinterest Favorites for Exam Week.

Also, stop what you're doing right now and check out this website:

http://www.calm.com/

I haven't done the guided calming practice yet, because I get caught up and just stare at the beautiful scenes. The wildflower one is my fave. I wish I could just live in it forever.

my Pinterest.

pinterest favorites.

cactus cookie jar | peachy skirt | airy bedroom | DIY personalized necklace | logo design | dreamy home style

Feeling bright, girly, and fresh this week.

I will be in the same dorm I've been in all this past year when I come back to school after summer break, so I've been fighting the itch to move all my furniture around and rearrange all my things. I'm seriously looking forward to having a fresh start. I've already filled a page in my sketchbook with ideas to make my old room feel completely new.

I also have plans to change around my bedroom at home a bit, just so I have a more "mature" space to come back to when I visit home. (that means goodbye orange walls!)

Because of these two things, I started a new Pinterest board, to collect inspiration solely for the places that are my own.

my Pinterest.

pinterest favorites.

earrings | colorblocked ensemble | east coasters(get it?? LOVE IT.) | mint car | type | risotto primavera

Feeling both classic and fresh this week.

I know the weather has been turned upside down these last couple of days; it's been FREEZING here. I'm definitely ready for the familiar warm spring days we should be having this time of year.

my Pinterest.

pinterest favorites: spring break.

palm trees | juice recipes | tasty design | luggage | poolside | citron dress

I am not feeling this week. I am not feeling midterms.

This is actually a really good illustration of how I feel.

I'm definitely ready for something exciting, vibrant, and fresh. I'm ready for a much-needed Spring Break.

my Pinterest.

pinterest favorites: sugar and sparkles.

disco ball helmet | donuts | heels | chanel no. 5 | marilyn | gold burger | glitter pills | unicorn | emma's pink lipstick

I have noticed that lately, I've been "girl-ing" things up. My dorm room, my wardrobe, my Tumblr, and my Pinterest are all feeling a little more pink and sparkly lately. I've become obsessed with blogs like The Glitter Guide, Cupcakes and Cashmere, and Stephanie Sterjovski.

I've always been a "girl's girl." Pink has never really been my favorite color, but anyone who knows me knows how important things like glitter, sweets, and makeup are to me. I think one of the main things I'm learning in my twenties is to embrace myself and my taste, no matter how crazy and gaudy it may be. ;) I'm learning to just have fun with my style, design, decor, and life.

Since I've been feeling so inspired by this new-found freedom, I decided to make a new whacked-out, fabulous, fun, and chic Pinterest board. So far, I'm really enjoying having a space to dump out inspiration and to Pin things that just make me smile. I think sometimes I take Pinterest a little too seriously by only pinning useful material, but Pinterest can really just be a great tool for inspiration and curating galleries of art and inspiration.

And I mean, come on, The Glitter Guide has a whole board dedicated to glitter(which I of course used for my own inspiration!). How fun is that?

my new Pinterest board.

pinterest favorites: merry and bright.

this emerald party outfit, because it's a different take on the usual red attire.

this vintage ornament wreath, because I see these kinds of wreaths popping up everywhere and I am obsessed.

these eggnog cinnamon rolls, because I'll be making them on the morning of Christmas Eve.
this Christmas cake, because I love the natural decorations.
these sparkling holiday baubles.
these birch ornaments, because I love natural ornaments on real Christmas trees.
this nail polish, and any other red or gold sparkly nail polish this time of year.
this simple yet beautiful holiday greeting card.
this equally simple yet beautiful window decoration.

In a perfect world, I would've uploaded holiday inspiration throughout the month of December. I would've loved to post my ideas for a White Christmas, a Rustic Christmas, a Colorful and Modern Christmas, etc., however, not so unfortunately, I've been spending my Winter Break relaxing and spending time with family and friends instead.

I can't help but feel the stress of the holiday rush and all of the hustle and bustle that the season brings, even though I personally haven't had that much to stress about since exams have been over. I've enjoyed my blog feed which has, since before Thanksgiving, been absolutely overflowing with beautiful gift guides and holiday style guides and appetizing recipes and DIYs galore. Truly, I have. With that being said, I didn't feel the need to add more of those kinds of posts to the blogger-sphere. I wanted to allow this space to provide the kind of silence and calm which Christmas really should bring, as I try to cultivate those feelings for myself.

So here is my one teeny tiny post of holiday inspiration, a short summary of my favorite bits and pieces of inspiration I've seen on my feed and Pinterest this season.
I wish you all a holiday that is calm, peaceful, merry, and bright.

my Pinterest.

pinterest favorites: birthday cake.

because this Sunday is my birthday:

these glitter cupcakes, because COME ON. (see also: glitter donuts.)

these numbered sparklers, to put on top of a cake instead of regular candles.

these balloons, because they're fun and chic.

these party shoes, because every girl needs a little glitter on her birthday. (I clearly need a lot.)

these donuts, because I honestly would rather have donuts than traditional cake.

this eye makeup, because it's just enough.

these birthday pancakes, because it's important to get the birthday celebrations started the very first thing.

these gold letter balloons, to spell out the birthday girl(or guy)'s name.

this confetti paper, because it's simple yet so fun.

I am turning 20 this weekend. I am not sure how I feel about it. Obviously, there's nothing I can do about it(and it's not like I'm dreading it or anything), but I am having a very hard time wrapping my head around the fact that I will officially be in my twenties. On one hand, it feels like it kinda snuck up on me. On the other, it feels like I've been in my teens for such a long time. I suppose I really am ready for another decade.

However, clearly, I'm still young enough to keep acknowledging my own birthday. I just really love birthdays. I don't think I'll ever outgrow making a big deal out of them. I love that every person has their own special day of the year.
I also really love sweets and I really love glitter. ;)

my Pinterest.

pinterest favorites: all hallow's eve.

this stoop, because it's amazing how just the repetition of the jack-o-lanterns produces such a dramatic effect. It's simple but absolutely crazy at the same time.
this fashion editorial, because it feels like October without screaming it.
these cookies, because they're a cute take on the classic pumpkin and ghost shapes.
these DIY glasses, because they make a cocktail look spooky without changing a single thing about the drink.
this photograph of an abandoned house, because it would make an awesome Halloween decoration as a print.
this table setting, because all black is both eerier and chicer than black and orange.
this family group costume, because it is perfect. Completely perfect.
this bloody french manicure, because I tried it last year and I still think it's the best Halloween-themed manicure I've seen.
these DIY ghost decorations, because I find that it can be hard to make Halloween decorations yourself without making them looking too cheesy, and Martha is an expert at it. You go, Martha.

Happy Halloween! Halloween is my ultimate, ultimate favorite. Since I've been away at college, I've been mourning the end of the Halloween parties I started throwing in high school(once I live in a place that isn't a dorm room, I will definitely be making them a tradition again!). This year some of my girlfriends are coming up, so we're all going to get dressed up and go out to see what kind of tricks and treats Asheville has to offer.

my Pinterest.

pinterest favorites.

from this season:

this farmhouse, because it is hauntingly beautiful.

this pumpkin spice drip coffee, because it's a super simple way to get your pumpkin spice fix.

these carved pumpkins, because I'm in love with their glow.

this cozy look, because it looks effortless and comfy.

this lovely phrase, because when I'm walking around campus this time of year, I can feel it.

this nail color, because fall nail polish colors are my favorite nail polish colors.

Autumn hit hard here this past weekend. The air has become consistently crisp and cool. The maple leaves are showing off their reds and oranges. I spent Friday night watching both The Nightmare Before Christmas and Hocus Pocus while eating pumpkin ice cream from The Hop. And then I spent Saturday taking an afternoon hike off the Blue Ridge Parkway to see the leaves at their peak. Expect pictures from that trip sometime soon.

my Pinterest.

pinterest favorites.

from this week:

this living room, because it's totally my style and it feels both modern and cozy.
this quote, not because I agree with it(because I'm not 100% sure that I do), but because it's got me thinking, and I've had it in my head all week. Taste is relative, obviously, but I do believe it matters. It may be shallow belief, but I do think it's important in fields such as art and design to search around on things like Pinterest in order to find what speaks to you and, more importantly, think about why they speak to you in order to produce things equally as awesome.
this umbrella installation, because it's dreamy.
these cookies, because I have a weakness for gooey, chewy cookies and these look perfect.
this celine handbag, because it looks perfect for fall.
these nails, because they also look perfect for fall, and I'm feelin' it.

my Pinterest.