A Beautiful Mess, the photo editor app

I know I'm pretty behind on this adorable little app, but I downloaded it when it first came out and honestly, wasn't terribly impressed.  Last night I sat down to play with it a bit more since it had a recent update and I came to the conclusion that I was wrong about this app all along.  I think where I went wrong the first time around was that I didn't give it enough attention.  I didn't take the time to play around and combine different things to make a cute picture.  I'm a huuuggge fan of their recent update and had a good time last night playing around on the app.  Here's what I came up with:

Go to the app store to download the app "A Beautiful Mess" or keep up with the creators on their blog, A Beautiful Mess.

Happy weekend everyone!

Woo hoo! It's Friday!

I love the dynamic of the weekend and the good vibes it brings.  Despite being on my summer vacation and the fact that I work from home, I feel like my favorite summer moments happen on the weekends.  It's when I unplug from the blog and step away from any and all work that I have.  On top of that, I feel like it's a good opportunity to spend time with both my family and Tim's since everyone is around!

I have a pretty busy week ahead of me so I am looking forward to taking the weekend to relax and prepare for a week of meetings and one very, very important interview.

For now, here are a few things I'm loving right now...

1.  This blog.

2.  These shoes from Target, which I bought today...along with like 4 dresses....oops.

 

3.  The idea that Fall clothes are on the horizon.  They were all over Target in a "Fall Preview" section and I was so excited.

4.  This perfect little guide from specialsections.suntimes.com:

5.  Birchbox...I can't wait to get mine!

6.  This article on public relations and how to have better objectives

That's it for now!  Have a lovely weekend and come back soon :)

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!

So I think I'll cut my hair...

I get bored really easily with my hair.  Sometimes I wake up and love it and other days I stare at my thick, long, brown, boring hair in the mirror and think "yuck!"  I've never feared cutting my hair like I think some women do.  I've always been aware that it grows back and even if my haircut totally sucks, I try to make the best of it.  (I was not always like this...one time, when I was 12, I cried for like...a week straight over a botched haircut.  I've come a long way!)  Anyway, I'm getting very bored of my hair again and have been perusing Pinterest for things to do to my hair that are a little different sans getting it cut.  It's help me hold off on wanting to get a haircut for a bit, but alas here we are and I have an appointment next Wednesday.  So it's crunch time...time to find a style that suits me and wont drive me nuts.

Here are some pictures I am thinking of referencing!  What do you all think? I'm also totally considering dying my ends a bit...sorta the whole ombre vibe but not quite as noticeable.

Wedding wear

I love love love, LOVE weddings.  Watching two people so in love make that commitment to each other just gets me every time.  This summer Tim's sister is getting married and then roughly three weeks later, my uncle is getting married as well!  So, while my mind is of course is on the lovely couples and their impending nuptials, I can't help but obsess over what to wear!

I'm that type of girl that dresses for comfort.  If I don't feel comfortable in it, it will show.  I will tug and pull and grab at the dress the entire night and I'll be asking Tim a million times, "are you sure I look good in this?!" Even though I think I dress for comfort, realistically I typically don't.  So, this time around, the goal is to find something that I feel comfortable in.  Something I can eat in and dance in and overall, just enjoy the love in.

When shopping for weddings, what do you all typically buy?  Help a girl out!!

Here are some options I am thinking of!

Click on image for bigger view!!!

Our trip to Buffalo

I have been going to Buffalo, NY since I was a little girl.  My grandparents, aunts and cousins have lived there my whole life and each trip meant time to spend with my family.  I've always appreciated my grandparents home because of the chaos.  I love the idea of a big family with a house that's always open for people to come and go...and that's their house in a nutshell.  Last summer I was excited to bring Tim so that he could meet my family, it was important to me...and a little nerve wracking ;)  It could not have gone any better, they loved him.  By the end of the trip...I was chop liver to all the little cousins in the family.

This summer we were so excited to see everyone again and were super eager to jump in the car and make that 6 hour drive.  Five days later, it's time to reflect on what was a perfect trip.

There was an outstanding circumstance that seemed to change the trip for us a little bit while we were there but my family really went above and beyond to make sure we had a great time.  I really enjoy Buffalo because it gives me a chance to spend time with my family, but I really loved this trip because of the time it gave me with Tim.  We had such a phenomenal time together guys...I can't even begin to tell you.  We really like to dote on each other and this vacation gave us the opportunity to really do so.  Were that couple that just enjoys doing things for each other, you know like making the other a cup of coffee and making sure they have everything they need just to relax.  I don't mean to brag, but Tim is so phenomenal and I for sure already knew that but this vacation was just the cherry on top.  He really made sure I was perfect at all moments of the day, he was just great guys...so great that I really can't find the words.

Just enjoy the pictures...I'm all sorts of jumbled with my words right now ;)

 First off...Tim is so great with all my baby cousins.  I don't have pictures of even half of them considering there are like 1,000.  This little girl right here...looooovvvves him and watching them together just, ugh, I can't.  It perfect.

 "Look guys I made batman!'

 I have no idea how this little picture thing happened...but it showed up on my phone...so cool?

 On Saturday we got out of the house a bit and went to Elmwood Village for some breakfast and a farmer's market!  Food was great :)

I didn't take nearly enough photos this time and I'm totally kicking myself in the butt for it, but it is what it is!

This was a seriously perfect vacation <3

Drawing on my walls...plus a very a little update

Well after having a chalkboard wall for close to two months, I finally worked up the nerve to draw on it!  I had been putting off drawing on it because I am a little afraid I'll never get it off, but Mary from Tulips and Flight Suits assured me that it comes off easily with some water and a sponge so I figured, why not just go for it!  Tim had already left his mark as you can see below and I'm not sure what the hell to do with that part of the wall now...so there's that.  Also, when I was taking pictures before an "orb" showed up and if we all really want to believe that whole orbs are ghosts thing, then that's just fantastic...my room already scares the crap out of me.

I was really happy with how this came out!!!

Thanks babe....(also, ORB?!) 

A little update...

This week Tim and I are headed to Buffalo to see my family!  We also did this trip last summer and had a fantastic time so I am really looking forward to getting away with him and also seeing my family.  I'm going to try and update the blog, but hey, if I don't, that just means we will have awesome content when I come back!  There are amazing things lined up for July so I really hope you all stick around!!

For now, here are some pic's from last years trip :)

I can't even take how cute she is!

 My favorite picture from the whole trip...ugh be-still my heart <3 

Obv had to throw Lloyd in here!!