Oh, Hi Spring, I've Missed You

Today is just plain gorgeous.  The warmest day of the year so far and the sun's still shining bright.  Luckily, I had today off and got a lot accomplished and wanted to add blogging to that list.  I was wanting to wait until I had new pictures, but at the rate I'm going it would be another month until a blog entry.  I don't have a whole lot going on, just getting adjusted to my new job, new schedule, etc.  I'm still enjoying it and have met even more great people.  It's a nice change.  Exactly what I needed.

I did break my right pinky toe last Saturday night.  That's been fun.  Yuck.

Other than that, life's great.  It's Holy Week so I'm trying to keep a thankful perspective (as I should every week).  God is good. :)

On another note, I'm in love with Carrie Underwood's outfit in this picture!  The good news is, we have a blouse and jacket like that at work and new hires get 50% off Saturday.  Win!

via here

Jim Marshall

RIP.  What an awesome photographer.

Photos via here

Pretty Prints

Here's some pics I've been eyeing from my Tumblr that I would love to have as prints hanging on my wall. 

I'd actually love to have this last one as a tattoo.  Hmmm...

All images via Tumblr.com

Week One Down

Oh my goodness.  My poor little blog has been neglected.  I started my new job this week and have been exhausted!  It's been years since I've stood for 8 hours and I've been feeling it!  I've met some great people so far and am really enjoying it.  All is well for now and I'm not missing my old job one bit.  I've been off today and I have tomorrow off, too.  It's been a good, rainy day to be lazy and not accomplish anything.

I'll post more later.  I got two of my Etsy orders in and will show you soon, but for now I'll leave you with a pic of the fam!

When It Rains, It Pours

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You've heard the saying "when it rains, it pours" and I've always found it to be true.  Whether it's good rain or bad rain, it all comes down at once.  For me right now, it's "change" rain I guess you could say, so many changes and it's scary and exciting all at the same time.  Just feeling sentimental today. :)

DIY Wall Board

My new addiction is the do-it-yourself section from ApartmentTherapy.com.  This cute cork/chalk board would be super cute and handy in any room.

Click here for detailed instructions.

Speaking of wall art, I just ordered this sign from TheHomeSpunRaven.Etsy.com, except I'm having it made in turquoise.  Cute, right?

Painted Trophies

I have a lot of trophies from when I younger: softball, basketball and some for actual academics.  They're in a box in the bottom of my closet, the same place they've been for years.  I don't want to get rid of them, but also don't want them sitting out.  I saw this online today and can't wait to pull them out and make them home decor!  How good of an idea is this?!

Photo and idea via Whorange.net

Found through Pennyweight

Watch Your Face When You're Famous

I was going through old pics on my tumblr and came across this.  Caleb's face made my day.  I had to share.

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Fetch

What's Marni like to do?  Marni likes to play fetch.  She'd play it all day long.  I, however, will not play it all day long, but I will play it for pretty good chunks of time.

Hooting Owls or Chirping Birds

I usually wake up around 5:30 every morning on my own, check my clock (cell phone) then roll back over and sleep for another hour or so.  Well, this morning I couldn't go back to sleep because the birds outside were going mad!  I mean birds chirping, owls hooting and roosters crowing.  Not kidding, I live in the country, darlings.  So, my half awake, half asleep self laid in bed at 5:30 this morning deciding whether I favor owls or birds.  I really thought this through.  Or dreamed it through, but either way the winner is owls!  For one, they're cuter and I imagine would be cuddlier, if you had the chance to cuddle one.  For two, I would much rather hear a few soft hoots than constant crazy chirping.  So, yep, owls it is and in honor of my decision, here are my favorite Etsy owl finds of the day:

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Oh, I hit a bird on the way to work this morning.  With my car.  Weird.

A Hankering for Shabby Chic

1.  I've decided I just don't use the word "hankering" quite enough.
2.  I went to a Shabby Chic decorating class tonight and I'm so inspired!  I can't wait to have my own place to decorate and make mine.  Here's some inspiration:

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Last Day of Vacay...

I can't believe I go back to work tomorrow!  I shouldn't complain since I've been off since the end of February, but I've really enjoyed being home.  My computer died last week and I just got my new battery and AC adapter in this morning.  It was a much needed "technology detox" as I called it.  The weather outside is gorgeous and I would love to get out and take a nice long walk, but I'm feeling under the weather today.  One of those sinus headache, feeling dizzy kind of things that just won't ease up.

My sister and I made a trip to Nashville Saturday.  The weather was great, so it was a good day to get out and walk around the city.  We ate at Amerigo's and it was delicious!  The cheese fritters were excellent and the salmon was very tasty, too.  We spent some time downtown then drove to 12 South then made our way to Green Hills.  We walked around the mall and looked at things we couldn't afford then went grocery shopping at Whole Foods.  I'm bummed there's not one closer to us.  I could eat so much better!  Spending the day in Nashville definitely reminded me how much I love it there.

So, this is my last week at work and I start my new job next week.  I'm so excited, yet terribly scared and nervous.  For the past three years my life has been very routine, with only a few changes here and there and it's scary to know that after this week, the little shell I've put myself in will be gone.  But it's time for it and I'm ready to see what's next!

On a totally different note, Jeff Bridges won for Best Actor last night and I couldn't be more thrilled.  Crazy Heart is honestly one of the best movies I've ever seen and he was absolutely deserving of the win.

(image via here)

Slow Down Week!

Is it just me or is this week flying by?  It's already Tuesday night and I feel like I've accomplished nothing so far on my week off.  I have managed to clean my bedroom from top to bottom and get it organized.  I love organization.  Call me a dork.  Marni decided it was time for her spring collar today and wants you all to see it.

She's getting super spoiled with me being home during the day.  Oh, and she sleeps with me now.  She's a bed hog for such a little dog.

Oh, I won concert tickets today!  I'm so excited, I never win anything!  Lightning100 out of Nashville has giveaways via Twitter on Tuesdays.  You text in song requests and they pick a winner and today it just so happened to be me!  It's to Bare Naked Ladies and Ingrid Michaelson in May at the Ryman.  Am I a Bare Naked Ladies fan you ask?  Not particularly, but it's a free concert!  I do really like Ingrid Michaelson, however, especially her new song Maybe.

One thing I have been doing on my days off is browsing the interweb for vintage home goodies!  One of these days I'll have a place of my own and I can't wait to decorate it with all kinds of vintage mixed with modern things.  I figure I can start buying things I find now so that I don't have it all at one time.  Good idea, eh?  Here's just a few of my favorites I stumbled upon today, all from Etsy.

UrbanWhyte

VantageStudios

ThisVintageHome

Pinguim

Sugarlily

Leap of Faith

I wanted to google a picture of angels singing and put it here, but I'm going to try to be classy and refrain.  Why the excitement?  I put in my two weeks notice at work today!  Yeah, yeah, yeah, not too big of a deal, I know, but it is huge for me.  I've been at my current job for over three years now and it's the only job I've had since graduating college.  I've also not been happy there and have been looking, hoping and praying for something else to come along for a while now.  It really is the best feeling to know I'm moving on, starting over.  The funny thing is, I finally gave in, gave up, turned it over.  I had prayed about it a lot, but when I finally handed it over, said "I can't worry with this anymore, you take it" is when I saw something happen.  It really is crazy how it all feel into place and it's too much to put here, plus would probably bore you, but it was a sequence of events that leads me to belive it's meant to be.  Life is about working toward goals, but it's also about having faith. I'm too young to be unhappy somewhere and if that means doing a lot of different things until I find what's right for me, then that's what I'll do.  I'm over playing it safe.  It feels good, kids.

On another note, I'm on vacation this week!  Yes, I gave my two weeks notice while on vacation and no, I didn't plan it to work out that way.  I'm just lucky, I guess?  Today went by super fast and I hope it's not an indication of how the week's going to go!  Oh, and I started spring cleaning today.  And enjoyed it.