blogging is hard

Between working about 30-35 hours a week in the store, and countless hours outside the store working on evolved and freelance work, blogging is hard. I love making graphics for posts and getting a good one all together and presentable. Getting home from a long day of dealing with pretty terrible strangers really takes it out of you - and on that note, I think everyone at some point in their lives should have to work retail for at least a month to see how terrible some people can be. It'll make you a better stranger to others, trust me. I am rarely rude to anybody.

What's that one quote? You can tell a lot by a person by how they treat others who can do nothing for them? I think so. That quote is my ish.

world's prettiest dumpster

It's all about finding beauty in ugly things, y'all. This gem was found at a service area in none other than the sunshine state itself: New Jersey! Glad to see we're upping the ante with these typical eye sores. It's amazing what an Instagram filter can do for a dumpster, right?

Presented with a Bow: Part 2

Lately I've been painting. When I say "lately" I mean last night. My sister just asked if I will ever start painting faces on these girls. Short answer - no. If I'm bad at drawing faces, why would I draw them? Duh. I really want to start using gouche.

Instant Connection: Antique Chairs

Found these gems at an antique shop in Vermont on the way up to the house a couple weekends ago. While the color looks spot on in the photo, real life color was just a little too blue for my liking. They were also dirty. Nonetheless, definitely would've purchased them had I been living on my own and had a dining table to place them... The fact that they were at a little booth all to themselves was like a sign from the antique gods that I should've just taken them.

Next time! Didn't even glance at the price. Just thought it'd make for a cute instagram and of course, I was correct.

Design-spired: That One Ikea Fixture

Every time I go to Ikea (often) to either get something specific or meander around on my day off, I walk by that one light fixture. That one that looks as though I could potentially make it myself with some vellum and an xacto. Small flower cut-out type things. As intrigued as I am with any and all shadows, you'd think I would've noticed earlier that this fixture would cast some awesome shadows. Ironically, it didn't hit me until I saw this picture on pinterest.

And now I'm literally about to drive over to Ikea and buy it. Just because of this slew of photographs demonstrating it's awesome shadow capabilities. Well done, person. Also, awesome instagram frames! I need to do that too...

// images via

Mawiage, Mawiage.

It was an incredible week/weekend and so much fun was had by all! My sister wed the LOHL (love of her life, duh) Marc at the most ridiculously beautiful resort in New Hampshire. Here are just some instagrams from my point of view as Maid of Honor.

La Vie En Rose: DC Metro Area

I've lived here my whole life. You'd think that by now, I'd have a pretty good grasp on the area geographically and physically... Nope. Not me. Since I practically spent the last 6 years of my life (that is now one-fourth of my life) in a small rural college town in the mountains, I'm pretty lost. Therefore, everything I find is pretty damn amazing to my virgin[ian] eyes. Here's a mini ode to some of my favorite sites in Northern VA / DC.

1. M Street shops in Georgetown // 2. King Street metro station // 3. Nationals Park // 4&5. Residential Georgetown (aka, rich people!)