Beach Bound

image via here and here

I'm headed to the gulf coast tomorrow for a much needed, much anticipated beach vacation. This week-long vacation is the longest I've had in over 7 years (no, that is not a typo, 7!). I have a bag full of books and a few bikinis and I'm pretty sure that's all I'll need, right? Oh, and let me not forget the husband or beer. Two other essentials. I plan on popping in at some point next week, but who knows, I hear soaking up the sun makes one rather lazy. Cheers!

Happy Weekend

via quotes and images; purchase print here

How has your week been? Mine has been incredibly busy and I find myself at night crawling into bed and passing out from exhaustion. Needless to say, I'm very much looking forward to a three day weekend. B's parents are coming into town for a visit so the next couple of days should be filled with lots of good conversation and wine drinking on the porch. What are you up to this weekend? Any fun plans? I hope your weekend is awesome!

This quote has been making me smile all week. Roald Dahl was my favorite author growing up. If you know the original source, please let me know.

Happy Weekend

via we love unicorns

Happy Friday! Any fun plans for the weekend? Kissing under a blanket at the beach perhaps? My plans are a bit less romantic - yoga, dinner with friends, chores. All in all, not too shabby. 

I put together a roundup of handmade travel essentials for my bi-weekly column on Papernstitch that I hope you'll enjoy. Have a great weekend! xo

Weekend Excursion (Washington DC)

It has been a long time since I've shared any personal photos with you all. Too long in fact. This means I haven't been bringing my camera out as much as I should. Bad Christina.

B and I went to DC this weekend, my first time ever visiting the city. We spent some time with family and did a speed tour of the monuments. I definitely hope to spend more time exploring the city in the future, preferably wearing more comfortable shoes. My favorite sites were the National Gallery and the Lincoln Memorial (I mean, he's just so huge!). Driving home to North Carolina on Sunday, we actually ran across a few snow flakes too. The only snow I've seen all season. All and all, it was a pretty lovely weekend. 

What about you? Have you been anywhere new recently? Any favorite spots in DC I should check out next time? 

Keepsake Feather Necklace

Happy Friday! Are you looking forward to the weekend? We have a lot to do to get ready for our trip back to Georgia- clean the house, wrap presents, mail gifts, etc. The holidays are fun, no doubt, but boy oh boy is this a busy time or what?

I wanted to share this sweet feather keepsake necklace ($28) Xoxii Shop with you. This is a Netherlands based shop so even though you won't be able to get in time for the holidays, it might be a nice keepsake to treat yourself to, no? Each feather is unique and I just think the idea is too sweet.

Enjoy your weekend friends! xo

6 things + Happy Weekend

1) soft rock print $20 by the paria birds 2) vintage utility wrap skirt via allen company inc. 3) geometric notebooks set of four $15 by pawling 4) female portrait $25 by the haunted hollow tree 5) splatter pouch $48 by corium 6)slim modern tab ring $20 by favor

Happy, happy Friday friends! How was your week? Mine was incredibly busy. I'm so glad to be back at work but man am I struggling to keep up with it all. Waking up at 5:30am every morning really puts a damper on the energy, you know? I have a lot to be grateful for, though, so when the obnoxious ringing of the alarm clock goes off before the sun rises, I remind myself, "get up you lazy ass and be grateful." 

I made a big move this week and made an appointment with a reproductive endocrinologist (in case you're wondering what I'm yammering on about, you can find our story here). It was a scary, but necessary move and I'm actually really looking forward to the appointment. In fact, I can't remember ever being so excited about seeing a doctor (I also can't believe I just admitted that). I guess that's the thing about hope. Funny how a doctor has never really made me feel hopeful until now. I suppose that's something else I should be grateful for. 

Well, now that you know what's going on with me, what's happening with you? Oh, and have a great weekend! 

Happy Weekend

via fatheed

I've decided that not working regularly (thankfully my old company has kept me on part time while we adjust to our new surroundings) has made me a rather lazy person. There's something about not having a demanding schedule that's made me not want to do anything. Exercise? Nah. Fixing up the house? Nah. Organizing my life? Why bother? As much as I've enjoyed this time at home, I am ready to be productive again! Thankfully, my new job starts next week, so I'll be readjusting yet again to a new schedule. I don't know what this means yet for the blog, but I promise, I'll do my best to keep up.

What are your plans for the weekend? This is B's birthday weekend (happy birthday B!) and we'll be meeting his parents in Charlotte for a short visit tomorrow. I've never been to Charlotte so I'm looking forward to seeing it. Are any of you familiar with Charlotte? Any restaurants you'd recommend?
Have a great weekend! xo

Happy Weekend + Reader Discount

Happy Friday! This weekend, I hope you'll take advantage of this special reader discount offered by Fabric & Handle. I love this shop's new line of tote bags. The combination of cotton and leather is perfect for every day use. Simply enter code "FH20" at checkout and receive 20% off your full purchase! This offer expires a week from today (9/30).

Do you have any fun plans this weekend? It's another rainy weekend in North Carolina and as much as I've enjoyed my time off as I wait for my new job to start, I am eager to get back to work. Until then though, we'll be hanging out, taking it easy and enjoying these lazy days while we have them. Hope you have a wonderful weekend! xo

Happy Weekend

julian bialowas

"Where there is love and inspiration you can't go wrong." So true, isn't it? Although it has been one hell of a week, we are focusing on the positive all around us- a new job, a new city, new friends, family, a support system that spans the nation, love and inspiration. I'm looking forward to the weekend with B. We're planning on going to Durham, walking around the city and seeing a movie.
A few links for you:

* I've added a bunch of fresh, lovely interiors to my tumblr page.
* I'm still looking for the perfect bag for work. Here's a roundup of handmade options.
* Will someone please, please, please buy these boots so that I stop staring at them everyday?
* There's a new online mag and the first issue is pretty great.

I hope you have a great weekend. Thank you for hanging in there with me this week. xoxo

Reader Discount + Happy Weekend

Happy Friday! If you plan on doing a little shopping, you should take advantage of the special D&OC reader discount being offered by Ampris Loves. This shop is one of my new favorites on Etsy, featuring vintage clothing and handmade jewelry. The best of both worlds if you ask me. Enter code 'lovelyblog' at checkout to receive 10% off your purchase.
Have a great weekend friends! xoxo

Happy Weekend

Moving illustration by the wonderfully talented, Lilli Carre

It's the weekend! Do a little dance, make a little love. Whatever you do, make it a good one. xoxo

Great Hair + Happy Weekend

top knot with pom poms (found via miss moss tumblr)

Are you still rocking the top knot? I know I am and I'm loving this little edition of a bright pom pom. Aside from dealing with my long hair in hot weather, B and I have had an interesting week settling into our new home. We've gone from excited, to worried, to discouraged, to excited, to doubtful, to restless, to excited and the cycle goes on and on. We knew we took a chance moving to a new place sans jobs and we prepared as much as we could, but honestly, I'm not sure anything could have prepared us fully for this little adventure. I'm still thinking of it as an adventure, by the way, because who knows where we'll land when it's all said and done? That's life for you. One big adventure.  

Do you have any fun plans this weekend? Besides a trip to the flea market, I think it'll be pretty low key for us. Hope yours is great! xo

p.s. don't forget to enter the Shabby Apple giveaway where you could win any dress of your choice!

Happy Weekend

B and Bella cuddling before our move.

Happy Weekend! Cuddle with someone (or something) you love this weekend. Ok? xoxo

Happy Weekend

olga bennett via mocking bird

Our first full week in Raleigh has been full. We've attended a wedding, had house guests for the past week, swam in a beautiful rock quarry, ate North Carolina BBQ, found a yummy local pizza joint, went to the laundromat for the first time in years thanks to not having a washer and dryer, applied for jobs, B interviewed for a job (we find out Monday so please keep you fingers crossed), and started painting. Slowly, ever so slowly, we're beginning to create a new home here and it's exciting. Other than dinner with family friends on Saturday we'll be painting, painting, painting and hopefully not stressing about B's potential job (breathing deeply helps). How was you week? Any fun plans this weekend?

p.s. have you entered the Peggy Li giveaway yet?
p.p.s Olive Manna has added a bunch of fantastic new items to the shop. Don't forget, you receive 10% off your purchases with discount code, 'CHIC'. 

Thoughts on a rainy Sunday

views from our new porch on a rainy Sunday

It's a rainy Sunday here in Raleigh, here in our new home. We've been here for a few days now but I still feel slightly disoriented and out of place. The boxes lining the rooms of our home don't help the feeling of disorientation but we're working on creating a space all our own beginning with painting, hopefully this week. I've finally decided on a color palette so the most difficult part is over.

The move went well if you don't count the locked gas pump on our moving truck which the rental truck company had no explanation for. Luckily we were only delayed a couple of hours and I'd like to think I handled the situation with grace. I'm sure the woman who answered my roadside assistance call for help would beg to differ though.

We arrived on Thursday after a four day move back and forth from Athens and spent Friday and Saturday celebrating the nuptials of two of our friends. Friends from Athens actually stayed with us last night serving as a sort of helpful bridge to our new life here. We've had house guests all weekend and will have another friend of B's staying with us tonight. The great thing about about having guests when you yourself have just arrived in your home means you don't have to apologize for the lack of food, or the mess, or the fact that you have to weave around boxes to get anywhere. After all, you've just moved in so who's going to judge?

I wanted to thank all the amazing bright stars in the blogging world that helped keep the blog running while we moved: Pugly Pixel, Here Comes the Sun, Color Collective, For the easily distracted..., Pennyweight, Bright.Bazaar, Modish, and I Art U. I am so thankful for their help and their fantastic posts.

Thanks for all of your support and kind words as we make our way through this transition. Sometimes when I get discouraged or anxious, I read your kind words and I feel better. Maybe the rain is making me feel extra sappy, but I do believe you are the loveliest readers around. xoxo

Happy Weekend

via LE MEMÉ

Happy weekend friends! Have you had a good week? Today is my last day of work with my current job and I'm sad and a bit afraid of what lies ahead but mostly I'm excited. Our material life is in boxes and cellophane (yes, cellophane, best packing tool ever) and I think I'm functioning on pure adrenaline and nerves, but other than the obvious, I'm feeling good. We're having a going away happy hour in Athens today so we can see our friends before we set off on our moving adventure. Let's hope I don't make a blabbering fool of myself and cry into my whiskey. It certainly wouldn't be the first time.

We're scheduled to have our internet set up at our new home this time next week, so I'll be out of touch until then. Luckily for me (and you, I hope) we have an amazing line up of guest bloggers that I know you're going to adore (if you don't already). I trust you'll pop in and check out their blogs and make some new friends, ok?
Until then, I wish you a restful weekend and an adventurous new week. xoxo

Happy Weekend

Birthday flowers from my sweet ex-pat friends in London.

Our dogs love to cuddle. Here's Bella's actually hugging Kya's derriere.

I took a walk with my new Popeye camera (c/o four corner store).

We now have an official place to call home in Raleigh!

How was your week friends? We have been going, going, going all week and our moving to-do list grows longer and longer. Despite the general craziness that I currently call my life, I had a lovely birthday and B gifted me with a couple of fun items. Perhaps the most exciting news of the week is that as of yesterday, we have an official address in Raleigh! It's an old home, built in the 1920's and we'll be renting the upstairs (claw foot tube included!). I can't wait to get settled in, but first, I need to decide upon a paint palette for the interior. Decisions, decisions.

This weekend, we'll be traveling to see our families and say our goodbyes before we move. Although we'll only be 7 hours away, it will be an adjustment for us. Change is good, but no one ever said it was going to be easy, right?. Anyway, that's enough about me, what's going on with you? Anyone going to see Harry Potter this weekend (crossing my fingers we can see it tonight!)? xoxo

p.s. we're finishing up the foster care visitation room project tonight. I'll post pictures soon!

Happy Weekend

Trying to find a place to live in Raleigh has completely put my stomach in knots this week (B is currently in Raleigh driving around hoping to find something as I type this). Last night, my dear friend Rachel came for a visit and we enjoyed a delicious dinner, sour beer, and I even sported a sailor hat made from a beer label provided to us by our friendly bartender.Thank goodness for small distractions. Cheers to the weekend! 

Happy {Long} Weekend + Some News

  giant dwarf tiny startlette sparkler $8

It's a holiday weekend here in the States and in Canada (Happy Canada Day!) and I couldn't be any more appreciative for an extra long weekend. This week, my husband and I have made it public knowledge that we are moving away from our beloved Athens to Raleigh, NC. If you'll recall, we took a trip to Raleigh recently and fell in love with the city. B and I are in desperate need of a change and since B has completed his Master's Degree we are crossing our fingers and toes that he'll find a teaching job. As for me friends, I have no clue what I'm going to do but I've started applying for jobs with no luck yet. I am trying every day to ward off a giant panic attack as I think about the fact that we will be homeless as of July 31st. That's not to say that B and I will be begging in the streets any time soon or exploiting our dogs by having them perform tricks at the carnival (although, that's doesn't sound like such a bad idea) but, as soon as my current job ends on July 22nd, we will be sans an income. We're taking a big, giant leap of faith that things are going to work out for us and in the meantime, I'll be working with Kya and Bella on their performances. They've been free loading way too long. It's about time those pups earned their keep.

Tablescape Design Camp

How's your weekend going? I wanted to pop in quickly and let you know about a fun opportunity if you live in the D.C. area. My blog friend, Manvi from Mochatini, is hosting a tablescape design camp and champagne party next Wednesday, June 29th from 6-8:30pm. For all the fun details, click here. Registration is only $30 and Manvi is one talented stylist so I'm sure she'll have lots of great tips to share. I wish I could be there, but alas, I live too far away so I thought I'd share this opportunity with you all.

On a different note,  is anyone as excited as I am about the True Blood season premiere tonight?! We're going to a True Blood party (Bloody Marys and all!). Can't wait! xo