Some fun DIY projects for any space

A dear friend of mine's boyfriend just got an amazing new apartment and so she asked that I write a post related to home decor and DIY.  While I don't have my own place just yet, I think if I close my eyes tight enough I can really dream up a perfect room.  I think for me, a space needs to feel like a home even if it's just a tiny bedroom or perhaps your dorm room.  If you can bring life and love into a space, that space will bring you happiness.  So, I sat down this morning and began reading some of my favorite design blogs as well as went through my Pinterest to see what I could find for them and I picked out some of my favorite's that I think they will love!

This cutie comes from The Painted Hive.  It's such an adorable blog and oh my goodness do I just love the idea of printing your own decals for a kitchen or even the bathroom!  Check it out!

 I loooovvveee this idea.  It's such a clean way to showcase books and for my friends, this is perfect for their future space!  Check out diycollegeideas.blogspot.com for ideas like this one!

 Ignore the lounging model because these letter print outs are to die for.  I am obbssssesssseddd with these guys.  What a perfect way to add personal art to a space and these really can go in any room!  These originally came from Black List Studio Prints, but are super simple to do yourself.

 These decals are great.  I just love them.  I think this would cater more towards my girlfriend...but I think her boyfriend could live with this :)  You can Google things like this to find a ton of different options!

 On the subject of decals....check this baby out!  I really enjoy the idea of having a grown up decal.  I feel like I see them a lot in college dorm rooms and hate them.  They are lame quotes and I just can't stand them.  This however...is perfect.  From simpleluxuriouslife.tumblr.com

This is a perfect find for my friends!  They love to hang on to their ticket stubs and this could be a great way to showcase them!  Just take a ticket stub or whatever and have it blow up.  After that, print it on fabric transfer material and turn it into a pillow!

Two of my favorite blogs that feature DIY home design are 6th Street Design School and Creature Comforts.  I often reference their blogs for DIY ideas and if you are looking for something fun to do around your own space, I suggest you check them out!

Also, Ikea anyone?  Such a great place for fun, cheap, items for any space in your home!

No part of this post was a sponsorship, just a favor to a friend and personal opinion!

Summer goals for 2013

Lately I've been talking a lot without really doing a lot.  It fees like my "to do list" in my head is about 10 pages long and I already feel defeated! To avoid further feelings of defeat, I have decided to refer to this daunting "to do list" as my goals for the summer because then we can all throw a party when I accomplish one :)

Anyways, I figured it was time to write it all down so that I can be held accountable for these so-called goals of mine!  Hereeee goes nothing!

1.  Lose 40 pounds by the start of my senior year of college.  Guys, the big year is coming up and I sorta just wanna look fabulous for it.  Most importantly, I wan't to feel good during it.  There's nothing worse than looking back on pictures and thinking "wow, I really don't like how I look here."  You'll never want to look at those pictures and that's a shame.

2.  Room re-do!  I gave my room at home a major overhaul the summer before I left for college and although it seems silly, there isn't much in that room that represents my current style.  A lot changes in 3ish year and I figured now is a great time for a mini-haul.  The plan thus far is to paint a chalkboard wall, build a bookshelf out of crates, give my desk area a total makeover including a new paint job and spruce things up as we go.  I want this to be done cheaply, because I am after all a broke college kid.

3.  Speaking of that room of mine...I need to clean bad.  Never in my life have I felt the need to just throw everything (well mostly everything) away and start over.  There's so much in my room that I don't need anymore and the clutter is becoming unbearable.  Ideally I'd like to donate basically everything and anything I can.  Stay tuned because I imagine this is going to be a hot mess.

4.  Enhance this blogging experience.  As I mentioned in a previous blog post, I have a lot of goals for this here blog.  I just haven't done them yet and Tim keeps lovingly reminding me of that.  I'd like to take this summer and really make this something.

5.  Find an internship for the fall that I will enjoy.  I want to really fall in love with my major again and that means I refuse to settle in the fall.  I want to find something that makes me happy even if it means being picky.

6.  I'd like to work on myself a bit.  I feel like everyone says this, but it's true.  I'd like to take some time to explore myself and figure out how to make myself a better woman.  Being in a relationship has shown me a lot of what I like and don't like about myself and I really want to improve the things that need improving!

7.  I would like to cut down my use of social media.  Lately I have been so aware of how the stupid iPhone (I love you iPhone, don't be mad) interjects into our daily lives.  Sometimes I ban them for the day when Tim and I are together because there is nothing I hate worse than sitting somewhere with him and both of us are constantly checking Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and trying to beat 1,000 levels of Candy Crush Saga.  Give it a rest!  The plan is once I leave school for summer (because how the hell am I going to get through finals without distractions?!) I am going to delete the apps from my iPhone and only check in when I am near a computer or my iPad (which is like never).

That's all I can think of for now, but I feel like this is going to be updated quite frequently!

What are you guys planning to accomplish this summer?!

Do bloggers really need to pick a theme?

Everything I read about blogging in preparation for this journey tells me to stick to a specific theme with my writing.  If you like to cook, write about that.  If you are a mom, chronicle your families journey through life.  If you design, detail your ideas for readers.  What I am finding an issue for me is that I have a lot of interests...a lot of blog themes, if you will.  I love to cook and do often.  I can't wait to marry my boyfriend and eventually start our family.  I working for a fashion and beauty public relations firm so I am sure I will have my fair share of input on that topic as well.  I keep trying to find one word to describe this blog and everything I hope for it to be down the road, but I just can't do it.  What I can determine now is that this blog will be a meeting place of ideas.  For me and for you, my readers. Oh I so hope someone's reading.  

The thing is that for years I have admired other peoples writing, humor and zest for life.  I often found myself thinking that I could do the same thing.  When I tried the first time I found that my voice wasn't there, perhaps I wasn't investing the time in my blog that it deserved.  But I'm older now, a lot wiser, and perhaps in need of a therapeutic escape on the weekdays and weekends that allows me to talk openly about what life throws my way.  I think this will be fun and I hope that someone stays around long enough to enjoy it with me.

Happy Monday!  Hopefully most of you are off for the holiday!  Any thoughts on blogging and what has helped you?  I'd love the input :)