6 Resolutions For Prolific Living

• Post on my blog every day.
• Integrate healthy "Clean" food into my daily diet.
• Decorate my house using a green, thrifty mentality.
• Learn how to crochet.
• Take a picture every day.
• Keep a journal for a year.
  

Gracing the Space Part: 3

My favorite spot in the whole house is my crafting table; not only because whenever I sit at it I feel inspired to create wonderful things, but because it reminds me a little bit of home.




Hanging over it are two beautiful banners my sister made for me. The first a mish-mash of gorgeous fabrics and the second a paper string inspired by the sea.

Gray Day Rainbow

There is a window in my craft room that looks out on my front yard and the street below; it is big and square and slightly dirty, because I moved here in the middle of Fall and missed out on Spring cleaning. I like to begin my day in front of it with a cup of tea. Some days the window shows me a street shrouded in fog so thick I can’t see the house on the other side; other days the sky keeps its clouds but still hides the sun. And still other days I look out the window to see a wet stained world and a continuous drizzle. I spend so much of my time at the window looking up, hoping to catch a glimpse of the sun, that I nearly forgot to look down. If I hadn’t I would have missed the rainbow on my driveway.

What I Got For Christmas

Plum colored finger tips.



Books that I hope will help create a healthier me in the new year.



And beautiful butterflies that will sail my words home to my loved ones.

A Busy Time of Year

It's been a busy weekend, filled with shopping and Christmas parties. Here are a few pictures that pretty much sum it up. The Airman has the next week off so my posting might be a bit sporadic. If you don't hear from me before the holiday I'll wish you a merry Christmas now.

Miss Mary, How Does Your Garden Grow

Say hello to Miss Mary, she dropped in on me unexpectedly last night. I was all set to sit down with a cup of tea and a good book when suddenly she was there; so sweet and innocent, and so interestingly dressed, I couldn't turn her away. Instead, I put down my book, carried my tea to my crafting table, and got to know her a bit better.




I found her to be delightful, and wanted to keep her around, but she quickly let me know that she was getting ready to go on a long trip. "Ahhh," I sighed, "I figured that was what you were here for." It saddened me to learn that my new friend would be leaving so soon after I discovered her but I know she will be loved where she is going.



Miss Mary might be leaving but she has made me realize that there are more characters out there, yet undiscovered, that I could invite into my crafting room. I can hardly wait.

Manly Christmas Card

Perfect for the Airman in your life.

Card From

Gracing the Space Part: 2

Gracing one corner of my space is my moth collages. When I was back in the states I found these really detailed drawings of moths in a book. I picked out a few, traced them, and brought them to England with me. For some reason I kept picturing the three moths as very different but equally interesting ladies. So, with that in mind, I made three collages each inspired by, and named after, one of my lady-moths.



the first was Luna. I kept picturing her as a flower child. One that liked to dance through fields of sweet grass when the moon was full, her long hair flowing out behind her.



The second was Crecropia. The name just sounded exotic to me. It evoked thoughts of spicy food and salsa dancing. Thoughts of a girl who wasn't afraid to shake her hips and wear feathers in her hair.



The last was Io, my favorite. For some reason with her I kept thinking of sunlight trapped in pools of cool, blue water and the soft, white bodies of doves. She's the kind of girl who is so graceful she could be a ballerina and so elegant she looks like she just stepped out of a black-and-white. You'd envy her but to know her is to love her.

Sufficiently Snowballed

Christmas is quickly bearing down upon us and it seems like this year is moving faster than most. I love the holiday season, all the parties, food and reuniting of loved ones. It's enough to make you sick with cheer. This year, however, I won't be partaking in any of my normal festivities and I feel oddly removed from all the Christmas bustle because of it. Moving half way across the world, far away from all your loved ones, could put a damper on anyone's Christmas spirit.



Thankfully, I'm not the kind of person to mope. I figured, if I couldn't go to Christmas, I would bring Christmas to me, and I've been decorating like a crazed elf ever since. I've been trying to make most of everything myself; which is not without it's troubles, but completely worth it in the end. One of the better things I've made is a snowball garland for my tree. I got the idea for it here.




It was wonderfully easy and fun. I'm planning on making another strand today just so that I can be sure my tree is sufficiently snowballed. (That was fun to type.)




I'm feeling more in the Christmas mood already.

Gracing the Space

In my house I have an extra bedroom that I've slowly been making my own. I emphasize slowly because I have brick and plaster walls and they are freaking annoying. They eat any nail you can throw at them and simple laugh when faced with a screw. The Airman had to finally resort to the big guns, a giant, lemon yellow power drill. He put a few accidental holes in the wall before he finally got the hang of it, but when he did the first thing up was this.



My inspiration board.It is gracing the space right over the desk, so now my space is a little more done.



In the coming days I'll share what else has come to grace my space. You can tell me what you think and maybe give some ideas on what else you think I should decorate with. Sound like fun?

Hair Pretty A La Mode

As promised, this is how the whole outfit looked.



And this is how the pretty looked in my hair.

Feathery Fun

I've been drooling over the pictures on the Ban.do website lately. (How could you not!) And so, as a fun one-day craft project, I thought I would make myself a Ban.do inspired hair pretty for the Airman Christmas party tonight. A trip to the craft shop, some hot glue, feathers and voila. A masterpiece. At least I think so.





Pictures of the outfit and celebration to come later. Cheers!

Happily Dancing

When I'm happy I find it hard not to dance. My foot starts tapping against the floor and my head nodding whenever I hear a good beat. I've never taken any kind of dance lessons but for some reason, I think it's my really long legs, people ask me a lot if I do ballet. Whenever that happens I always take it as a very nice compliment, which makes me happy, which in turn makes me want to dance.

image credit: weheartit

The Big Bangs

Yesterday I was feeling the need for some change, big change, and I found myself wandering over to the hair salon without really knowing it. Imagine my surprise when I heard the bell over the door jangling and realized I had just walked in. "Wham, bam," a half an' hour later I had bangs. "Somebody get me an aspirin, that was violent." Once I was back in my right mind, and in front of a mirror, I decided that it was the best decision I never really made. Bangs are brilliant! How come no one ever told me they were so fun? No camera, so I can't show you what it looks like on me, but here is the inspiration photo.



It goes without saying that I love my new look. I'm feeling very different and European; which works for me cause I'm moving to England soon. Three cheers for violent haircuts!

Absolutely Freaking Hilarious

Inspired by Iceland Video from Inspired By Iceland on Vimeo.

Just try to not smile.

Flying High

It has been really hot and humid out the last couple of weeks, and not the kind of hot where you step out your door and go, "wow, it's freaking hot out," but the kind of hot where you step out your door and instantly die. Like I said, it's been freaking hot! In happier news, I recently acquired an amazing new computer and - drum roll please - had my laptop fixed, so I'm living right now in the merry buzz of fully operational electronics. Somebody pinch me, this must be a dream.



Image credit: weheartit

Dino-Dog

I'm house sitting for some friends this week and taking care of their dogs. They are so cute! It's made me realize how much I miss having puppies. Here's a cute picture that is sure to make you wish for your own furry friend.


Image credit weheartit.

365 Messages

I was bored and surfing the web one day when I came across this story. Isn't it brilliant. If I had received that as a wedding present that person would have become my new best friend . . . for life. I've had an idea to do something similar to this for years; only, I want to use drawers instead of envelopes, things instead of letters and I want to keep it for myself. (Hey! I never claimed to be a saint.)

Let's Go Fly a Kite

I just can't seem to stop looking at this story and video on Toast. I've watched it more times then is probably sane and I think it has something to do with the kites. I can't help but be happy when I see them. Kites, I think, just have that kind of an effect on people. Don't believe me? Take a look at this picture and tell me it doesn't make you want to smile.


Image credit

Raining Owls

It has been raining and raining and raining since Friday. I've just about had enough of cloudy skies and wet, humid air; especially the humidity. My hair is scared frizzley by weather like this. As soon as the water level in the air reaches muggy it revolts and becomes this completely unruly mess that no amount of straightening can tame. On the bright side, the rain did inspire me to go out and find this little guy.


So cute.
Image from weheartit. Don't know who took it??

An Imagination for Elegant Attire

The Airman and I are going away this weekend to Panama City. It's a retreat our church is doing and I don't know much about it except that we're going to be staying in a nice hotel and listening to a speaker. I know I should probably just pack normal clothing but I find myself looking again and again at the few nice pieces I have hanging in my closet, dreaming about old black-and-white films. You know, the ones where the main man and woman meet at a classy bar.

She is sitting there, back straight, legs elegantly crossed, sipping her glass of champagne, when he comes along, suit coat unbuttoned, fedora tilted at a rakish angle. Suddenly, she has an overpowering urge for a cigarette, and who should be there ready and willing with a lighter? You guessed it.

Images from weheartit. Don't know whose they are. Let me know if you do.

Shopping and Wishing

A friend of mine is getting married soon and I would love to be able to attend her wedding. Unfortunately, that would mean traveling back home to Michigan and I don't know if I can do that. But doubts as to wether I can afford a plane ticket haven't stopped me from searching for the perfect dress. Knowing my friend her wedding will be timeless and elegant and I wanted to find a dress that would give off the same feel. So, like the smart little girl I am, I zipped over to Anthropologie and found the perfect dress.



Of course dream dresses always come at a price. So, after finally admitting I will never get this dress, I found another a little closer to my price range.



I so hope I can go.