Skin Wars

There's a clear double standard in beauty today. We all know this. We've lashed out at brands for not being inclusive in their shade ranges...cough Tarte...cough Loreal...cough IT Cosmetics. We've sought out influencers who are ethnically diverse and unique. And we've come a long way in the beauty industry at being more thoughtful about the thousands upon thousands of different skin tones that the human race has.

But a clear double standard remains. (And no, I'm not talking about the fair vs. deep debate. I, rarely, if ever, am able to use drugstore foundations because their shade ranges don't go light enough to accommodate my fair skin. However...this is NOT the same as brands just blatantly excluding an entire end of the spectrum. That's a whole other debate for another time and place.)

The double standard I speak of is how our society places value in both light and deep skin tones depending on what your ethnicity is. Why is it not the same? Let me elaborate...

If you are caucasian. Our society emphasizes the tanner (or darker) your skin is, the healthier and more attractive you are.

But that's not the case if you are a person of color. Instead, the same "society" says that the lighter complexion and skin tone you have, it's more acceptable and revered and beautiful.

So basically, if you sit at the fair caucasian side of the spectrum or the deep person of color end of the spectrum you are not an ideal beauty.

WUT?

In my mind that sounds so crazy. I would never play into that. All skin tones are equally accepted and beautiful.

And then I go and slather myself with stinky, disgusting and messy orange self-tanner so that I don't "blind" people when I have more skin exposed. I spend lots of money on leg makeup and self-tanner and tanning booths and bronzing lotions and other junk to alter my complexion color.

What is wrong with me? I'm literally playing right into this idea that the skin tone I was born with isn't okay. I've had this huge revelation over the last few months as I ruined yet another set of sheets because my self-tanner transfers when I sweat. Or as I dreaded the long and arduous routine of exfoliation, shave, tanner, let it dry, don't shower for a day, worry about staining clothes, etc that happens when the weather turns warm. Or as I envied the women who only have to worry about shaving their legs when they wear a dress. Not whether or not they have applied enough self-tanner or Sally Hansen leg makeup to be considered an acceptable shade of tan to venture into society.

And then I got mad. It's not fair (pun intended) that I have to make myself look like someone else's standard of "pretty". EFF THAT.

And to be quite frank, my time is better spent on other things than the entire self-tanner routine. So, this spring and summer season I think I'm going to embrace my true skin tone and just go natural. No tanner. No stinky orange streaky mess.

And I dare a heaux to ever make a comment about my white legs again :)

Bathroom Update: Painting the Vanity

One of the projects M and I both wanted to tackle was painting our bathroom vanities. It was something we desperately wanted but we were unsure how time consuming of a project it might be...so we kept putting it off.

Well, we bit the bullet and started in the master bathroom this weekend. I'll be honest, I had to work half a day on Friday so M actually ended up doing most of the work with this project. But that is a good indication of how easy it really was!

The entire project took less than a day and we are thrilled with the results!

Our first step was to sand the 11 year old builder-grade oak cabinets. M did the larger parts with a electric palm sander but chose to use regular old sandpaper for the cabinet faces and drawers. Because of the molding on these it was easier for him to use sandpaper. He sanded them all enough to knock the sheen off and rough up the surface a bit for painting. I'd say it took him about 2 hours total to sand everything. He removed the drawers and doors and sanded them all outside because, well, it's kind of messy.

After the sanding was done we headed to Lowe's and picked out our paint. I knew I wanted a blue-tinged dark gray. I like the look of dark vanities with white tops so we figured a darker gray would contrast nicely with the white top and hide any stains well. We ended up going with Valspar Reserve paint in Muskeg Gray. We purchased a couple of chip brushes and some small high-density foam paint rollers specifically for cabinetry and went to town. I started by painting in the door molding and the edges with the brushes and then finished with rolling the wide, flat parts. Overall we did two coats  of paint on everything and it looks great! We ended up painting inside the house in the kitchen area because it was really windy and getting chilly out.

I've never painted anything in the house before and the house not smell like paint. Actually unless you saw the painting stuff in the house, you wouldn't even know it. I smelled NOTHING. No paint fumes, no paint smell. Honestly, I loved that. I didn't pick this paint because of the low odor and no VOCs, but I would definitely pick it again because I loved walking into a house that didn't smelled like paint!

We opted for a semi-gloss since it's a bathroom and this is the most chip and stain resistant. I love it. The final product is a bit more of a babyish gray than I thought but I don't mind it at all. We purchased a gallon of this paint and plan to use it to paint the guest bathroom vanity as well. I'm so happy we chose to do this and it feels like I'm walking into a different bathroom!

Slowly but surely, my house is becoming void of color and much more neutral...i.e. gray and white. And I don't hate it one bit! Here are the before and afters! (Also I know my grays don't all match. I need to get a different rug...maybe a pop of color to tie it all in.)

BEFORE

AFTER

Bedroom Swoon + Updates

I love our bedroom. But I've really be yearning to brighten it up a bit. It's a little dark and I want it to be lighter. Our bedroom furniture (which I love) is dark and huge. It's just not a great fit for the size of our room and when we go to sell the place, it makes the bedroom look pretty small. For reference, here's what I'm working with currently...well...sort of currently. We have a different gray duvet but basically the same color palette and look.

And here are some ideas I've seen lately on Houzz. Based on the similarities in the pictures, I guess I should be looking for an upholstered headboard...or no headboard at all and a rustic wood wall. :) We will probably sell our bedroom set and look for something lighter and smaller...or go with no bedroom set at all and just do a headboard and a dresser and something different for the end tables. We aren't in a rush to do anything yet, but it's good to get some ideas, right?

Photo by Mark Ashbee Photography - Discover farmhouse bedroom design ideas

Photo by Dalia Canora Design, LLC - Discover transitional bedroom design inspiration

Photo by Wayne Windham Architect, P.A. - Search beach style bedroom design ideas

Photo by Dalia Canora Design, LLC - Look for transitional bedroom design inspiration

Photo by Carriage Lane Design-Build Inc. - Browse contemporary bedroom ideas

Photo by Jessica Helgerson Interior Design - Look for contemporary bedroom pictures

Summer Sundress: 1 Dress 5 Ways

The right summer sun dress can easily become a warm-weather wardrobe staple with the right accessories and completer pieces. Below I've made 5 different outfits using one adorable sundress from H&M. By switching up completer pieces and accessories you get completely different looks suitable for a variety of occasions.

one dress five ways by aprilanne147 featuring a blue shirt

Adding a blazer, pearls and nude pumps makes this sun dress appropriate for work or a business function (assuming it's not too short). 

Pairing the dress with a gauzy, crochet long cardigan and leather accessories like a belt and sandals make this sweet look perfect for concerts, outdoors functions or maybe even a barn wedding! 

I love the look of  a chambray knotted over a dress. It makes it look like separates. Adding a wide-brimmed hat and wedges takes the look from beachy to vacation chic. 

Just the simple pop of brightly colored accessories changes the look of this dress and makes it feel more fancy. 

Be daring and take color risks. The subtle navy and blue pattern just screams for bright colored accessories (well at least to me) so pretend your dress is a neutral and go crazy with colors! Tie it all together with a fabulous statement necklace.

Would you try any of these looks? 

Neutralizing Our Living Room

Sorry I've been a bit absent over the last few weeks. I've been traveling non-stop for work. Things will start to slow down a little more as we get in to June, thankfully!

I'd begun to grow weary of my living room...don't get me wrong I still love teal and colors, but the older I get I'm more into a neutral living space in the main areas. It's just more calming and soothing. I loved the neutral look of our bedroom, but never got around to doing that sort of palette anywhere else in our house.

Over the weekend, M and I worked to neutralize the color palette in our living room. We purchased 2 things, a new rug (we needed one anyway...our old one was too small and stained) and an old window to hang over the sofa.

Here's what we were working with before (top row) and after (bottom row).

One of the things we loved about this house when we bought it was the flooring. It's this really cool gray-toned wood and it inspired the palette for the living room. Well, that and apparently the dog too. 

I knew I wanted something old yet simple to put over the couch and I had my mind set on an old window. We went to a local antique store over the weekend and found this one for $18. I love it! It's still a little small on the gigantic wall behind the sofa, so we will continue to look for something to flank the sides. I like the idea of smaller funky window or stained glass windows..or even some sconces. I'm in no hurry to fill the wall up since we had a pretty full wall before. 

All of my art work from the gallery wall has been repurposed throughout the house. I actually look at them more now than I did when they were on the wall over the couch. 

Overall, I'm pleased with the look. It's more soothing and calming and summery to me. We moved the bookcase to the guest bedroom and are now on the hunt for a low profile slipper chair to put in the room as well. I also want to get another table lamp to replace the aqua one (which will move upstairs to the guest room). So, this gives me a fresh, new starting place. :)

Things That Make Me Happy

Mondays are jerks. Here I was having a great weekend and catching up on all my sleep and getting stuff done around the house and then Monday happened. Grrrr.

But, Mondays are inevitable. Without Mondays, there'd be no eventual weekend. So. this is me. dealing with it. By posting things that make me happy today...

Well of course, my husband M, make me happy. He knows when to push and when to pull and when to give me the reins. :) 

This little guy makes me happy. Look how cute he is! What you don't see is the pee spot from where this he peed on my freshly planted snapdragons and the sidewalk. I may or may not have edited that out.

Faceswap...aka...one of the greatest inventions of my generation. I'm obsessed with it. Well, pretty much with all snapchat filters, but especially this one. And the rhinestone eye one I mentioned on Friday.

Pineapples. I'm into them so much right now. And so is Helene so everything she posts with pineapples are giving. me. life.

Fresh flowers. I'm obsessed. I just planted a cutting flower garden over the weekend and I can't wait for them to start growing! I want fresh flowers in the house.

What's making you happy today?

Wardrobe Consultation v.2

I posted before about doing some "wardrobe consultation" and outfit-making for my mom. Well, over the weekend I did it again with some newer items she'd purchased over the last year. Here's a recap of what I did last year if you missed it. You may see some of the same pieces from last year and there are definitely some repeats this time. I'm a big fan of mixing and matching with the same pieces to achieve different looks.

Here are some outfits from this past weekend.

I really enjoyed doing this. Anyone else localish (Charlotte/Fort Mill) need me to come make you some outfits? :)

Truths

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My friend Daniel posted this as a list on The List App and I loved it so much and thought it so relevant, that I'm posting here. Without further adieu...

TRUTHS

You'll never get everybody to like you and/or agree with you.
1. Their loss. 2. Keep trying if it's a worthy battle.

Everybody is scraping by the best that they know how. 
The world is simultaneously awe inspiring and terrifying in its scope and complexity. Nobody has it figured out. Look for people filled with wonder. Avoid people who think they know everything.

Your worldview is based on assumptions.
And so is everyone else's. You may not find comfort in this, but you should find compassion. We're all just guessing. Read Hume and laugh it off.

Seek out dissenting views. 
Try to understand them. Don't shun people who don't think like you. Hold only a few core beliefs tightly. Debate and don't be afraid to admit if you turn out to be wrong.

You are more than your sexuality.
Our culture is obsessed with sex (in all fairness it is amazing). We have made the mistake of making our sexuality our primary identifier. No doubt it plays an important role, but remember you are so much more besides.

Be confident - but not arrogant.
There are areas where natural talent will get you pretty far. Hard work will take you farther. Know that you are capable of great things. Be humbled by remembering that everyone else is also capable of great things.

You will get hurt. 
Life is a full contact sport. Get back up. It's always worth it. Also, finding love can be a serious pain. Choose carefully to minimize heartache.

You are loved. 
You were lucky to be born into a family that full on loves you and each other. Not everyone has (or had) that. Adjust accordingly. Show love when possible.

A choice once made isn't made forever.
They are made continually. Your current actions are your only actual choices. Confirm with resounding frequency your good choices (marriage, life goals, charity) and don't be afraid to turn your back on bad choices (abusive relationships, a great paying job that makes you miserable).

News networks are selling a product. 
And I don't mean the commercials. They know their demographic and they give them what they want. Try to get your news from another country - they are less biased (because they don't have anything at stake).

Arguments that only appeal to emotion and don't present facts are weak. 
You can be emotional when delivering facts - though be aware that if you're ALWAYS emotional empaths will find you exhausting. Back up important arguments with facts. On the receiving end, be aware of your emotional states when receiving information. It's easy to be emotionally manipulated. Especially in a group.

Hard work doesn't always lead to wealth.
Luck plays a part too. Not all poor people are lazy and not all rich people worked for it. Anybody who tells you different is probably a politician or rich and not thankful enough.

Separation of Church and State is a good thing.
(For clarity - I'm a Christian.) Trying to turn ever religious belief into a law isn't good. 1. You'll be trying to hold people to standards that they don't accept and 2. you'll make your beliefs that much less appealing. If there is an exception worth fighting for, you'll know it.

Always be concerned with justice.
Find what is right. Find what is true. Fight like hell for those things.

Eating well and exercising is good for your body and mind.
Your diet and energy level can affect your mood. It's crazy. Do you best to keep your body happy. (For me it's greens and moderate exercise, for a close friend it's pasta and extreme endurance -find out what works for your body.)

Drive safely.
My dad impressed upon me his belief that cars are lethal weapons. If you treat them as such and handle them with care lives will literally be saved. Also don't drive drunk. Volunteer to be the DD if and when you need to.

Avoid being passive aggressive.
Just don't do it. Nobody likes that.

Lessons I've Learned from The Grinch

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The Grinch (both the 2000 and the 1966 versions) movie is one of my favorites. There's so much to love about the story of the Grinch and a lot of important life lessons you can learn from him.

Christmas is more about togetherness than it is about gifts.
Well this one is kind of given...it being the theme of the whole movie and all. The Whos in Whoville had nothing. Not a scrap of anything and they still gathered together to celebrate Christmas. Now, I could put some religious meanings in with this, but I won't. The basic idea is that you don't have to SPEND to celebrate Christmas. It's about togetherness and unity.

Teasing people about their appearance can ultimately lead to dire consequences.
In the later movie version, we get much more of an in-depth look at the childhood life of The Grinch. He wasn't born with anger towards the Whos. It grew out of mistreatment, teasing and torment at the hands of the Whos all his life. Ultimately, the Whos probably regretted being so mean to The Grinch when they saw all he was capable of and all he tried to destroy.

Comparison is the thief of joy.
I feel like this is an actual quote and not something that just came to mind. Maybe I've heard it before, but either way, it's a real lesson that can be learned from the movie. In the later version, we also see the competitive nature of the Whos (with all of their Christmas decorations and Christmas lights on their houses). Each year, they do more and more to win the best house prize and eventually they are spent. They've exhausted themselves competing with each other and the true spirit of Christmas is gone.

Heart growing is the same as heart softening and it does happen!
The Grinch's heart grows three sizes when he sees how the Whos celebrate with no Christmas "stuff". Now, IRL you don't want your heart to enlarge by 3 sizes, that's actually a bad thing. But you absolutely can soften your heart towards something. Maybe it's a group of people or that annoying coworker. Maybe it's a cause that's recently become dear to your heart. Ol' Grinchy can teach us a lesson in learning to soften your heart towards things.

Forgiveness restores unity.
When the Whos forgive The Grinch and accept him back into their community, all is well. He brings back all of their Christmas trappings and their food and the unity of Whoville is restored. Forgiveness goes a long way in repairing relationships. Christmas is an excellent time to let bygones be bygones and let grudges die. Forgiveness restores relationships and unity.

Merry Christmas!

Our New Home: Ideas & Boards

"It is a truth universally acknowledged that every single major life event must be in want for a Pinterest board." Quote by me. However, I do feel that a modern Jane Austen might also think along the same lines. ;)

Whether it be a wedding, engagement, baby, birthday party, or new house...Pinterest is the place to gather and collect ideas. For our new home venture, it's no different. I've started a few Pinterest boards collecting ideas for decor styles and remodeling. Now, our house is considered move-in ready. However, there are some things that we will probably want to update/upgrade in the next 5 years or so.

Starting off is our bedroom. The walls are already painted a nice tan/taupe color so we will start with that. We have dark furniture that looks similar to some in the pins below and I'm all about some neutral grays/tans/white bedding and white/clear accessories. Since the walls and furniture are so dark, I want to brighten it up with whites and grays everywhere else. Hopefully, this will give it that grown up, spa/hotel feel and not look like Pinterest threw up everywhere.

The very top pic is our actual duvet cover and I have a white throw over it. Gray/white/neutral throw pillows too! I love the faux sheepskin rugs on the sides of the bed! I smell a DIY project coming soon!

Next is the kitchen. We will eventually want to either paint our cabinets white/gray or stain them dark. I'm not a fan of the medium shade of wood they are now. I also would like to consider doing some open cabinetry or glass front for some of our white serveware. I also want to add a tile back splash and update the countertops. This is all eventually down the road. For now, it's fine.

Here are a few other ideas I've been toying with to just do or make:

• Turning a shower curtain into wall art. We have a huge wall in the living room that would be perfect for a large statement piece. 
• DIY Buffet Table for my Memaw's China and serveware
• Floating "sofa table" shelf for behind the couch.

I do fully realize the undertaking of some of these projects...especially the kitchen. Some will take a few hours and others a few weeks...but I'll just remind myself that the place IS MINE and that I have no landlords to answer to. MUAHAHAHAHA.

PS: Today is closing! Fingers crossed that everything goes smoothly! 

Pantone Color of the Year 2015 - Marsala

First off, let me be honest with y'all...okay?

I'm not a big fan of this year's color. Pantone always picks a color of the year and usually picks great ones! This one isn't BAD...it's just not one I usually would ever wear or like.

This year, it is Marsala. A natural, robust and earthy wine red.

 Here are some ways you can wear Marsala...

And here are some colors to pair with Marsala...

I do love the wide variety of color options that can be paired with Marsala...especially the hues of green and blue that go with it.

Marsala + Aqua
Marsala + Olive Green
Marsala + Turquoise
Marsala + Cobalt
Marsala + Camel
Marsala + Cream
Marsala + Peacock Blue

The color pairing options are endless!

One of the things I am actually the most excited about is trying a Marsala colored lipstick. As long as I can get one with a more neutral (brown) than orange undertone, I think it would look really great!

Would you wear Marsala?

Being Happy

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As I scrolled through my Facebook news feed this morning, I clicked on the link to this Huffington Post article about the 7 Habits of Chronically Unhappy People. Having always thought of myself as an optimist, I expected to read the article and find nothing of use to me. I am a pretty happy person overall.

However, when I read some of the habits of unhappy people, I could definitely see some similarities in my own behavior and thinking. Now, I don't consider myself to be chronically unhappy, but I can definitely trace periods of unhappiness to some of these habits. It's a little bit of a wake-up call that I could recall specific moments when I acted in these ways...and most of them are at work. Now, I don't hate my job or coworkers...I really like it, in fact. But, I find myself a bit more susceptible to indulging in unhappy habits while at work. It's very possible that other people's attitudes or behaviors have more of an effect on me at work than in other places. This is why it's vital that I learn to recognize these habits when they start to pop up and redirect or rechannel my thinking.

Specifically, I'm talking about habits 5 and 7 in the article.

5. You strive to control your life.

I'm a total controller/planner/be-in-charge type girl. It's great for things like weddings and when trying to adhere to schedules but it's bad when I try to control things that I really cannot. Sometimes things just happen (at work, at school, in life, etc.) and sometimes people react in ways that you can't predict or plan for. I've got to be a little more "go with the flow" and be okay when the inevitable wrench is thrown in my plans. This doesn't mean I shouldn't be focused, but I shouldn't be so blindsided when things don't go my way, but be able to take it in stride and keep going forward.

7. You fill your conversations with gossip and complaints.

Man, I am a complainer. I've been one my whole life. But I've only recently noticed that complaining breeds complaining and results in frustration. If I complain about something at work, then another coworker complains...then usually it results in gossipy conversation or even anger. Similar to #5, complaining about things I can't change or can't influence really does me no good. Whenever I recognize that I am complaining (or about to start it) I really need to stop and think about what my complaining will result in. Unless it results in actual change for the better, I should just keep it to myself. The last thing I want to be known as at work is the depressive, bitter, Debbie-Downer and complaining is a sure-fire way to get that title.

If you read (or skimmed) the article, did you notice any habits of unhappy people that you recognize in your own life?

2014 Halloween Costume

This weekend I went to a Halloween party at a friend's house. This year I had a hard time coming up with a costume. I don't like to spend a lot of money and I don't want to be something basic like a witch or a vampire. I like being costumes that make people laugh, smile or both! In the past, I've enjoyed being inanimate objects, double entendrees, animals and a celebrity. This year I was pretty set on this one costume idea and even went as far as borrowing the outfit for it. But on Thursday afternoon, I thought about it and wasn't really feeling it. I browsed around on Pinterest, my favorite inspiration source for Halloween costume ideas, and was inspired to be...

 

GRUMPY CAT!

 

Here's a side-by-side comparison of me with the actual Grumpy Cat "aka" Tardar Sauce.

 

 

Like last year's costume, this one was more about the makeup than anything else. I just wore a black shirt, jeans and a faux fur vest that I had that just happened to be sort of Grumpy Cat colored. I bought the cat ears and a cat tail from a party store. So, for less than $20, I had a great costume!

 

The makeup was inspired by this picture on Pinterest. The makeup is some white costume/Halloween makeup plus lots and lot of bronzer and brown eyeshadows. The pink on the nose and the accentuation of the frown were all done with a little blush. The whiskers were the white makeup drawn on with a thin liner makeup brush. At the last minute, I decided to add a little sign to emphasize the grumpiness of my costume and I think it went over well. It says "I Hate Halloween. And you."

I loved being Grumpy Cat. But it was hard to try and stay grumpy or frown the whole night...so I just did it for pictures. HA!

After a doe last year and Grumpy Cat this year, who knows what sort of animal I'll decide on for next year! :)

Happy Halloween!

Bring Reading Rainbow to the Web!

Today, I bring you a special announcement about a beloved childhood show of mine. Reading Rainbow, which aired from 1983 to 2006, wants to continue the battle against childhood illiteracy and take their programs to the web...and eventually into each classroom, free of charge. Read more about it here.

Take a look...

This show meant so much to me growing up and it was a huge proponent in developing my love for reading. If childhood illiteracy is something you want to battle or even if you just want to support this amazing, wholesome, information and educational show, you can pledge your support.

This fund has already gained a lot of attention, raising over $1 million in a day, but there are 32 days left and lots more to raise! Because every dollar that is raised just means more children will get access to the these amazing programs FOR FREE!

I believe that every child has a right, and a need, to be literate. We have a responsibility to prepare our children… and right now, the numbers show that we, as a society, are failing in that responsibility.
And here’s the problem:

Right now, 1 out of every 4 children in America will grow up illiterate.

And: numerous studies reveal that children who can't read at grade level by the 4th grade are 400% more likely to drop out of high school.
And: as of 2011, America was the only free-market country where the current generation was less well educated than the previous
These problems won't solve themselves. Real change will require us all to work together. We cannot afford to lose generations of children to illiteracy. And if we work together, we don't have to.

-Host LeVar Burton

Read more about this fund and pledge here. This is one of those "worth it" causes, for sure.

But you don't have to take my word for it. :)

Stop and Smell the Roses (or whatever your flower of choice is)

 

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My life has become a lot busier in the last 6 months or so.

My job has become a HECK of a lot busier, I'm in a relationship which makes my life busier and I feel like I have a lot more evening/weekend obligations now...well, more so than I did 6 months ago.

The busyness of my life both frightens me and excites me. I used to be REALLY busy (like insanely busy with a job 6 or sometimes 7 days a week) and left that job and life a couple of years ago. The scared part of me doesn't want to be like that anymore. But I'm also excited about being busy because it means new opportunities and new relationships.

I've joked that my middle name is efficiency, because it's how I operate. Inefficiency really, REALLY irks me. I try to always be as efficient as possible and this means taking the shortest route, avoiding unnecessary conversation or multi-tasking my brains out.

While efficiency is very helpful in the workplace, I've learned that it's not always so in life.

Efficiency can cause one to miss out on "life". On life's lessons, on life's humor, on human interaction. We can miss out on all of those things by doing everything as efficiently as possible.

We sacrifice a phone call for a text and miss out on the chance to catch up with a close friend. We take an interstate route to our destination and miss out beautiful scenery from a slightly longer country commute.

We don't take the time to detour from the mundane and be a part of the natural spontaneity of life.

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I used to always pride myself in being the person who notices the beauty in something that others often overlook and I fear I've gotten away from that lately.

 

So, here's my blogosphere promise to take time out  from being a multi-tasking, efficient machine and enjoy being a human being. I'm going to work on stopping and smelling the roses*.

 

Will you join me?

 

 

*Well, except not roses, because I don't like them. But...let's say gardenias, or lilies, or insert your favorite flower.

Wanderlust

I'm not much of a traveler.

It's not that I don't like to travel, I just haven't. Well, that and I'm not the greatest flyer...but I'm getting better.

Lately, I've really had a bad case of wanderlust and I've been pinning gorgeous travel images on Pinterest. And one of my fave bloggers who is quite the experience traveler, blogs about her adventures a lot. So, I'm wanderlusting?? Meaning, I really, REALLY want to take a trip somewhere but it's so hard to decide where.

I want to go to:
Japan
Hawaii
Florida
French Polynesia
Germany
France
The Grand Canyon
Ireland/Scotland
San Diego/San Francisco
The U.S. Virgin Islands
Yosemite
Greece
The Badlands
Alaska
Italy

Whew! That's such a huge list. How do you even know where to start? It's overwhelming, even.

So, I'll just stick to pinning some of my faves for now...