Duplex

This past Friday called for inclement winter weather. If I was in Boone - I would have been content, because living in Boone means living in a snow globe and it's all part of the territory. In Charlotte, inclement weather means 30 minutes of freezing rain and crazy drivers.... and I wanted to escape that.

Lisa and I drove down to Charleston on Friday afternoon. Our roommate from college just moved there a few months ago! Her new place is only one street over from the house that my grandmother grew up in :)

The original hardwood floors made my heart skip a beat every time I looked down. Plus, there was an adorable cat running around. Rue! I probably would have been happy hanging out at their adorable duplex all weekend - but you can't visit Charleston without soaking up as much charm as possible, so that is exactly what we did. I love playing tourist in a city that I know so well. Yay for having another excuse to visit!

Holiday Instagrams.

1. & 2.  Flannel, chunky knits + festive novelties
3. & 4. My first official Office Christmas Party! Vikings are very Christmas-y
5. Some of my favorite people - uptown Charlotte
6. & 7. Late night at Amelies + Christmas crafting
8. & 9. "Forget-me-nots" + Boys at the skating rink
10. One of my bests
11. & 12. Sugar cookies  + Christmas kitty
13. & 14. Footie pjs + Advent
15. Happy couple :)
16. & 17. Holiday on Ice + A place I frequent often
18. & 19. A spoiled cat + A somewhat cruel game involving gloves, a timer, and layered gift boxes



I figured that I should probably add my Christmas photos, considering the next big holiday is tonight at midnight. Happy New Year!

Hot Air Balloons.

 Forget flowers. A bouquet of colorful hot air balloons is the way to go. I don't care how rough of a day you've had -  the scene at balloonfest is sure to bring a smile to your face. This I know, because my day started off with a flat tire. One flat tire quickly turned into two flat tires - little did I know, my spare was flat as well. Talk about reliable...

 

This unfortunate incident led to a series of them. Luckily, I can't remember what all happened because that afternoon, we went to Balloonfest and quickly forgot about all of the day's troubles. I haven't looked back since. So, if you're ever in a grumpy mood - I suggest chasing down a balloon festival. Instant spirit lifter.

Song for Autumn

 

 

My favorite season is upon us!! We aren't very far into it, but so far: I've worn my loafers almost every day. I've gone to an apple festival. I've ordered hot tea along with my dinner. I've added a few new chunky knits to my sweater collection. I've turned the oven on to bake. I've embraced the rainy days, because they are no longer as sticky as they are during the summer time. I've spent every weekend yard saling - rain or shine - and don't plan on stopping any time soon. My heart is full. I think Mary Oliver says it best -

 

 

 

SONG FOR AUTUMN

 

In the deep fall

don't you imagine the leaves think how

comfortable it will be to touch

the earth instead of the

 nothingness of air and the endless

freshets of wind? And don't you think

the trees themselves, especially those with mossy,

warm caves, begin to think

of the birds that will come - six, a dozen - to sleep

inside their bodies? And don't you hear

the goldenrod whispering goodbye,

the everlasting being crowned with the first

tuffets of snow? The pond

vanishes, and the white field over which

the fox runs so quickly brings out

its blue shadows. And the wind pumps its

bellows. And at evening especially,

the piled firewood shifts a little,

longing to be on its way.

 

- Mary Oliver

 

 

Somer&Ted

It was a fun time, can't you tell? I call them my sisters for a reason. The weekend kind of felt like being in college again, except we're all grown up and getting married and stuff. These photos were taken a month and a half ago, and I'm trying to re-live them in my head. This pretty August wedding was themed in watermelon pink and sunflower yellow - the colors of summer. Fast forward only a month and a half later, and there is a pumpkin on my doorstep! Time goes by so fast.




*For the most part, these are Somer's professional photos filtered via instagram.

Ambitious.

We felt rather ambitious waking up at 5:30am on a Saturday to go estate/yard saling, but the sleep deprivation was worth it. Saturdays are normally my sleep-in days.

I mapped it out the night before, because I'm a planner - and good thing! Sale number one was a huge success. Meredith found an old trunk for fifteen dollars. Fifteen dollars!! That, and a garden rake to display necklaces, a wooden picture frame to distress, and some cute antique china. I found two old enamel milk pails that will make perfect vases for wild flowers, and a floral mug. Sales number two and number three were quickly bypassed for number four - a community sale in South Charlotte that was another success. Let's just say my (non-existent) kitchen is happily stocked.

After a morning filled with coffee, yard sales and a trip around Festival in the Park, we went back home and crafted til the day's end. It was 9pm and we were still wood-staining the trunk outside. Seriously, longest day ever - but best day ever.

 

The cake stand (or, jewelry stand) - one of my favorite gifts to make and give. Ever since I discovered this simple craft, I've been hard pressed not to attach a candle stick to every antique plate that I come across. Not good for my collection of mismatched china, which is slowing transitioning into a collection of cake stands - but I think I'm okay with that.

Start each day with a grateful heart.

 

Tomato, peach, mint, hunter green and gold - what a great color pallet. I keep a stash of canvases on hand, just in case im in for a wild night of crafting (every night). Sometimes I get on a painting kick and end up covering 3 or 4 canvases in a week. Take last week for example..

 

One of my best friends from App and I decided to be pen pals since we can't talk in class everyday - except, we've actually become more like package pals that email eachother on a daily basis. I sent her something to hang in her new office!

 

 

I need to remember to start each day with a grateful heart... and maybe a run on the treadmill?

I love you, a bushel and a peck.

Fall means festivals and festivals mean fall. The NC Applefest was this past weekend and you know me - I'll take any excuse to travel up towards Western North Carolina. Things that could have kept me away, but didn't: A stormy radar and my unfortunate cinnamon allergy. Those apple turnovers looked so wonderful...

Hendersonville, NC. I've never seen a town that was more proud of it's apples. Funny enough, our relentless quest to find Pink Ladies ended with - not a bushel and peck - but a turtle caramel apple from Kilwin's and the sad news that Pink Ladies are not quite in season.

I'm going to make it a top priority to hit all sorts of 'fests' this season. The Yiasou Greek Festival, the Lexington BBQ Festival, and of course - the Carolina Balloon Festival are all coming up! Yay! Fall!