The Mandatory 2012 Post

In 2011, I...

• Spent a week in Key West & Miami with some amazing friends
• Graduated from college!!
• Started a new job 2 days after graduating
• Moved back home with my family
• Went camping in the Tennessee mountains
• Mourned the anniversary of my boyfriend's mother passing
• Learned that commuting sucks
• Signed a lease on an apt in Atlanta
• Found out that my boyfriend is going to be an uncle for the first time
• Turned 22
• Saw my brother excel in culinary school 
• Danced in the rain (tornados, technically.. but we'll say rain because it sounds better!)
• Ran my first 5K
• Ran my first 10K
• Was extremely blessed to be hired by a company that goes above and beyond for its employees

In 2012, I...

• Will move into my new apartment with a friend I've known since middle school :)
• Hope to continue my job
• Hope to continue to grow and learn in my career, and take on more responsibilities at work
• Am excited to meet my sweet nephew, Mason, due in January
• Am determined pray more and learn more about God
• Would like to better manage my finances (what can I say, shopping is my therapy..)
• Will visit my friends in Auburn as much as possible
• Want to ski in Colorado
• REALLY want to travel. Anywhere. Paris, Colorado, Mexico.. I'd even be happy just going to Florida! Just take me somewhere, please!
• Hope to volunteer and dedicate my time to helping others
• Am putting myself on the bone marrow donation registry! Scary, but will be worth it to save someones life

The rest will just be a surprise...
Good things are to come!!

Bonne année et bonne santé!

The Bitter and the Sweet

Congratulations to Connie Colley for graduating from Auburn University with a degree in Social Work - watch out for her, she's going to change the world one day!

Congratulations to Michelle Salom for graduating from University of Miami last week! She will be starting law school at U of M next semester.. She's sexy, she's independent, she's smart, she knows sports.. Boys if you want her number, just ask ;) 

Congratulations to Joey Hoellerer for graduating from Auburn University last week.. He's my fave! 

And, for something truly inspirational, congratulations to Molly Welch for graduating from Auburn University last week. She really is an incredible person with an incredible family! Read her story here. 

Wednesday Eye Candy

I will let you browse these pictures and judge for yourself, but I am in love with this Chicago home.

Personally, I would pick this house up and move it to a different city.. Paris, Nantes perhaps? But it is a dreamy home that deserves to be shared!

All pictures from Wall Street Journal, "House of the Day"

My Motto

DO WORK, SON. 

Trying to keep this in mind as I go about my work week...

Right Where I Can See It...

Big news.. I finally found my big-girl Atlanta apartment! It is exactly one mile away from my work, right in the center of Buckhead, walking distance to tons of restaurants, shopping, Lenox Mall, Phipps Plaza aaaand... I will have my very own walk-in closet. As you can see, I'm pretty pumped about it. Too bad most of my income goes to my student loans and not shoes...

I totally wish I could put some seating in my closet and make it an extravagant, soothing space where I can drool over my amazing wardrobe (that I don't actually have).. but alas, I haven't quite made it to that level in the world yet. I would, however, love to paint the interior a really fun color, like the turquoise (or grey) stripes below. That I can do! Also, flowers make everything better. :)

 

Get Your Holiday On

Nordstrom may be combating the "christmas creep", but that doesn't mean we can't start to get a little excited for the holidays! (BTdubs, Nordstrom gets major props for taking this stand!)

I won't be sending out holiday cards this year, but these are just too fun not to share. The holidays are quickly approaching, which means it's time to start thinking about what to send! 

I particularly love these cards from Wild Ink Press because they stay true to what Christmas is about - faith, joy, and above all - God. The classic gold + silver color scheme doesn't hurt either. 

The Smock cards have a slight vintagey vibe to them, which is great. I love love love all of their products, and actually used some of their cards as my graduation thank-you's. And as if the cards weren't great by themselves, they come with the cutest coordinating envelopes. Seriously, check them out.



And, of course, the always fabulous Inslee has some of the chicest cards EVER! Perfect for the glamourista that we know we all are.

Are you sending out holiday cards? I want to hear about them!

xoxo

Surprise!!

Well, it may not really be a surprise since you've surely seen it by now.. but I finally got around to making a new header for the blog! Woot woot!

So.. do ya love it? Do ya hate it? What would you change? I need your input!

xoxo

Take Me to Paris

Every now and then, I start to get the itch... not that kind, but the kind where I'm dying to return to France.

The entire country, and Paris especially, is truly magical - the kind of life-changing experience you can only experience through travel.

Images via Pinterest, NatGeo, tumblr, and Etsy