First of all, I know what this looks like, and I promise that I won't be only using pictures from Instagram from here on out. (Although I am, admittedly, a tad obsessed.) But please bare with me during these last few weeks of the semester. It is crunch time, and I haven't exactly been frolicking around campus with my DSLR in tow. (Although I should make time to do so this weekend. Spring in Asheville is too beautiful.)

I've been churning out projects and working out almost daily. (!!!)
I feel good. I feel inspired. I feel ready to clean out my body and my brain.

This came up on my Pinterest feed the other day, and I couldn't agree more.
I don't have much to show for anything right now, but I have high hopes to come back to this space with more plans and projects.

may flowers.

A few quick updates:

Lonnie showed up to my house on Mother's Day with gorgeous yellow tulips and roses for my mom and I. They're making me smile.

It's finally warm and staying warm. This is hopefully the last time I will have to repeat that sentence this year.

I've been keeping myself busy while waiting on a call to confirm my summer job orientation schedule. I've spent a lot of time with old friends going to old places, while having new experiences and new conversations with some new friends added in. It can be a tough act to balance, but I think I'm doing fairly well at it. I'm having fun, at least.

I have been eating so much fruit lately. Pineapples, strawberries, and bananas are my ultimate favorites, especially when mixed together.

One of my first days back was spent rafting on the river which flows all around my hometown. I even jumped off a rope swing for the first time. I have some high hopes that this summer will be drenched in water. Lake trips and beach trips are already being planned. 

the biltmore. (part 2)

This part includes pictures from the main garden area of the house. My dad teased me for being in macro-flower-photography heaven. Har-har. 

But really, I was in color-inspiration heaven. Although I would really love to see the Biltmore around Christmastime someday, I'm so glad that my first visit was during this time of year instead. Spring seemed to be at its peak, and the beauty of all the different blooms made the house feel so alive. Despite overcast skies, the gardens were absolutely magical.

curing the winter blues.

Some little things making me smile:

1. A "Forget Me Not" coffee mug I got from a thrift store, and filling it with coffee as a pick-me-up on cold, windy afternoons.

2. Samoas. Girl Scout cookies in general. But mostly, Samoas.

3. The Chrysanthemums that Lonnie got me.

I am clearly looking forward to spring as I search the everyday for warm, sweet, and colorful things to get me by in these hardest days of winter.

I know my posts lately have been inconsistent and minorly slacking, but I promise I have a few "out of the dorm room" posts coming up. I've just entered into the Photography portion of my basic level art rotation class. At the same time, we are making the switch from Illustrator to Photoshop in my New Media course. I have been in a photo funk of sorts, so these two things could not have come at a better time.

sweet like honey.

Prior to Valentine's Day, I painted my nails sparkly pink and gold.

I also did some much needed toiletry shopping and and bought jars to organize my office supplies. I couldn't find a desk organizer I liked, but these jars were perfect. I can always use them for something else if I happen to stumble upon an organizer I like, but for now, this is working really well.

I worked on this Valentine for Lonnie the day of Valentine's Day. I had a dream the night before that I was back in Mrs. Sowle's classroom painting with oil and mineral spirits. I woke up aching for it. Now this is by no means considered serious art, but it felt good to break out some watercolors and brushes and put paint to paper.

One of my hallmates, Corey, taped candy to everyone's door. Corey's awesome like that. I got a laffy taffy but traded it with Brandon for this pink lemonade lollipop. I love pink lemonade anything.

I wore a loose fitting pink shirt, burgundy jeggings, a cream colored cardigan, my gold sparkly flats, dogwood shaped earrings Lonnie gave me, and a ring shaped like a heart with floral detail. Curled hair and pink lip butter, of course.

As a complete side note, dorm room pictures are killing me. The light is always bad and the grey and blue (and messy) floors and tabletops do not make pretty backgrounds at all. I apologize.

Despite me telling him not to get me anything because we don't celebrate Valentine's Day, Lonnie showed up to pick me up with potted Chrysanthemums. I am so not a roses in a vase kinda girl(unless they're orange roses), so I accepted these. Now I just have to try my best to keep them alive.

He also ignored my meal request. I wanted to go to Taco Bell, but he took me to my favorite restaurant that we've been to so far in Asheville: The Moose Cafe at the Farmer's Market. It's nothing fancy, but they serve their drinks in mason jars and give you biscuits with honey and (as I found out yesterday) have some damn good fried chicken. It's just a really happy place.

Another side note: my restaurant taking pictures are always the same, I know. I get so shy taking pictures in public so I just snap one quick picture and try to hide my camera by keeping it super low. It's something I need to work on.

Overall, my Valentine's Day was filled with love. The need for me to call my loved ones was pretty much erased because I am heading home today! In less than an hour, actually. I'm still not packed. Of course.

summer's last breath.

It's safe to say that things are quickly turning fall here in Asheville. The leaves are already beginning to change. The mornings are chilly. Pumpkin everything is already showing up. On rainy days, you might even think Autumn is in full swing. But on days like today, summer clings to its last few drops. The sun warmed the earth all the way up to the mid-70s. Students walked around in shorts and sunglasses. Flowers were in the their most saturated of colors and the sky was the brightest shade of blue.

The first picture of the bird was taken on one of those rainy days I mentioned. Outside my hall, the poor little bird was sitting on the sidewalk. It could fly some, but not much. We weren't sure what was wrong with it or what to do about it, but Lonnie decided to move it in between some bushes nearby. 

The rest of the pictures were taken today when Samm and I decided to take a walk to The Hop and get ice cream. It was so gorgeous out that I had to go back to the dorm to grab my sunglasses and camera. I had organic vegan chai latte ice cream and it was soo good. I'm not vegan so I didn't pick it because of that, the taste alone was that yummy. Samm had chocolate candied bacon. Enough said there.

It was a really good day. I'm trying to make an effort to choose happiness. To help out, I decided to make a more personal tumblr where I make a list of good things every day. You can find it here: http://goodthingsbyliz.tumblr.com/

already gone.

I graduated high school. I cried. Lonnie bought me pearls and flowers. The very next day I left for Freshmen Orientation at UNC Asheville. A day after that, I left for the beach. More pictures and posts to follow.