ellie

Oh, where to start with this girl? Ellie is all around amazing, guys. She's incredibly beautiful and so knowledgeable and just so fun to be around. I love her laugh and her sweet disposition, her willingness to help and her sense for adventure. She is so vibrant and full of life and I had some of the best days ever with her. I'm not alone in missing her, either...Ellie's shadow for the week, MeMe, misses her just as much as I do. Ellie, I love you. I wish you the best in your adventures this summer and I can't wait to hug you again. You're the best.

ellie & carlotta || a vlog

Over the past few days, I was blessed enough to be able to start calling Ellie my friend in real life. We met last year through our blogs and this week she swung by my house for a two day visit. I cannot tell you how amazing it is to meet close friends made through the internet for the first time. It's indescribable. Unfortunately, Ellie had to head back home yesterday morning, but we had the best of times together, involving adventures downtown, long chats, walking along the river at sunset, lots of laughs and looots of photos. I can't wait to share more from her stay! And Ellie...hurry back soon. We already miss you!

Both Ellie and I have received a multiple requests for a vlog over the past few weeks. Today would normally be the May edition of everyday moments, but we thought we'd do a special video edition instead--because two is better than one, right? We'll be talking a little bit about branding yourself, your business, and your photography...enjoy!

(and let's just ignore my awkardness and focus on ellie's cuteness, okay?)



Be sure to stop by Ellie's blog as well to view her special everyday moments post!

things to be happy about, v.6

shirt: target // skirt: thrifted // shoes: target // belt: forever 21 // necklace: forever 21

My brain is officially fried (so I apologize if nothing makes sense) and I'm exhausted, but my sophomore year is finally over and summer is here. The last few weeks have been a whirlwind. I wish I could have enjoyed them more, but it was just rush-rush-rush, work-work-work, try-to-get-everything-done-in-time. June is looking pretty busy too, but I'm looking forward to having a bit more time to--gasp--relax.
And yes, I feel like a broken record, so I'll stop talking about summer now.

Things to be happy about...

warm summer nights || chocolate ice cream with brownies || carrots from my garden || spontaneous mid-morning adventures || ballet performances || simplifying and reorganizing || my beautiful mama || exciting summer plans || good hair days || dancing in the front yard || being done with school (obviously)

What's on your happy list?

Have a beautiful day, friends!

so close

As the wind blew fiercely and the sun wove in and out between a threadbare blanket of clouds, we took a morning a few weeks ago to head down to our favorite spot by the river. It's only a few miles from our house, but it has such a different feel from our neighborhood and it's so nice for a change of pace.

But trips to the river lately have been scarce, what with the craziness of that May tends to be. It's properly hot, too, as ninety degrees farenheit, and I have a hard time believing it's already this time of year again. Summer is looming tantalizingly close--I just have two finals to take until this school year is officially over. Plans for these next few months are in place, which include heading to Germany for two months in July and August to visit family (I haven't been since 2010 and I can't wait to go back!), visits with sweet friends, and working on some photography and design work. Come Tuesday, I'll be a free woman and I'm so excited.

What plans are on your horizon?

much love!

a peek inside

I've gotten a number of requests for a post on my journal, so here it is! Since January I've been keeping a little book that I fill with pretty things and bits of my writing. I've written in a diary for a few years, but it's nothing special; it usually consists of a few scribbled words every night and, unless you consider the chicken scrawl that is my handwriting artistic, isn't exactly aesthetically pleasing. My journal, however, is something I don't mind other people seeing. I don't write in it every day, but when I do, the pages consist of song lyrics, poems, and beautified lists; it's like a physical version of my tumblr. I take pleasure in collecting pretty bits and bobs (my favorites include paint chips, lace, and old book pages) and putting it all together until it flows--it's such a creative release.

Do you journal?

ps I spruced up my sweet friend abbey's blog a few days ago--take a look and give her some love?

my favorite thing

There are many things I could crown as my favorite part of our house. It could be the cozy aura that transforms the house when the sky takes on a pallid hue and threatens to cry. Maybe it's the shadows that are painted thick and rich on the wood on sunny days. Perhaps it's the secrets this house hides--there's something wonderfully special about living in a house built almost eighty years ago. It could be the breakfast room where dance parties take place or the basement that's perfect for sleepovers or the guest room off the garage that I flee to when I need a change of pace. Maybe it's the cool minty tile in the bathroom, the wood floors that creak comfortingly, or the backyard that begs for cartwheels across its surface and picnics on the grass.
But mostly, I think my favorite part is the fact that it's a home. It's decorated with memories and filled with love and laughter. And the people I share it with? They really can't get any better.

What's a favorite part of your house?

ten on ten | a day in the life

Along with a few others, I'm embarking on a ten on ten project. Basically, it involves documenting a day in ten (or more) images and posting them all on the tenth of each month. I like the idea of taking the time to document a whole day with my camera. My life seems brutally ordinary and routine at times--in all honesty, when I look back at my old posts on here, I am stunned by how perfect my life looks. My life? Perfection? Hah! Despite its beauty at times, let me clarify once again that's a very false statement. I was talking with a few friends the last week about this very subject--how wonderful everything looks while blogging. If only it were true.

Here are some images from yesterday, in chronological order...













My Wednesday starts with classes from 8:30-10am and again from 11:30-1pm--in the middle of the two I take a little break to workout, have a mid-morning snack (in my case apple pie), do a little gardening, and play piano. Once my second class is over at one, it's lunch time and a break until my piano class at three. Following piano is a little more school/work, then relaxing (which involves eating nutella with a spoon and reading to kill a mockingbird, or my favorite book of all time) until dinner around seven. And after dinner comes family time out on the lawn until it's dark.
(Obviously I didn't take photographs of each part of my day, but it's the effort that counts, right?)

My life may not be the most glamorous or exciting or adventurous, but it involves the people I love the most, and really, that's all that matters.

Go check out Hannah's photos--and be sure to click around and look at everyone else's shots!