too many projects, not enough time

{1} lamp: needs wiring 

{2} frosted glass: extend to front room of the house  

{3} pillows: reduce to fewer fatter pillow forms

{4} fabric: hopefully-soon-to-be awesome toss pillows 

{5} curtains: HANG THOSE SUCKERS UP DARNIT 

{6, same photo} knobs: finish replacing knobs on the dresser {aka clear out World Market's stock. Again} 

{7} drawers: need to be modified to fit into franken-dresser. Yes, still on the to-do list.

Honorary mention: STOP using the cell phone to take pictures! Sheesh.

This is my list, which doesn't even include the organizational tasks or random sewing projects I'd like to tackle, too. I may or may not be in over my head here. I'm hoping to accomplish one or two of these this weekend but heck, what do I know?

Please tell me I'm not alone?

inspiration: plump and pretty // diy

{pillows, that is.}

The end of last year held a lot of changes in our little apartment. We updated the dining room {here}, played around with our gallery wall , put in a fun new rug, and rearranged some furniture in the living room. The next step, though, was to make the place a little more colorful! 

Here's what our living room looked like a couple months back, pre-gallery wall:

{Sorry for the dark picture, it got dark FAST back then}. 

It was fine, but we could do better! Particularly in the couch area.... those poor couches had seen better days! They're still totally comfy to sit in, but the upholstery was getting a bit dingy and the pillowback sofa was giving me fits! We seriously would have to punch those pillows back into shape daily if we wanted it at all presentable {which we do}. Plus, white upholstery was fine and dandy when you lived with all girls, but having a guy in the house.... not such a good choice {sorry honey, but its true!}. I've had to tuck a blanket over the never-turning-white-again cushions since the mister's dirty feet ALWAYS seem to find their way to the seats!

But since the "bones" were good, we decided to invest in a set of slipcovers, and revive the pillows.  We already saw the "instant fun" injected into our guest-room-turned-tv-room with our chevron pillows, but I wanted to amp up the drama in the living room with some punchy graphic mixed prints!
Not sure what I mean? Here's some eye-candy from around the internet:

{Click on the photos for the original sources!}

        
For the second-to-last one, original source unknown (anyone with better magic google powers, let me know; I've tried everything!) 

Swoon-worthy, amirite? Or am I the only person who gets giddy over graphic prints? My head is spinning from all the busy, in a totally awesome way.

I just LOOOVE the pop of color these patterns give to these neutral couches. They're just so punchy and fun, which was exactly the inspiration we were looking for. I've got a LOT of sewing ahead of me, but I'm excited!

What do you think? 

cheerleader

When things don't go the way I had planned, I'm just glad I've got this guy to help me keep things in perspective.
Love ya, husband 'o mine. 

in mourning

My dear darling Jessica;

You will always be my first love {err, car}. I dreamed about you all through my teenage years and was thrilled when you were mine. You were my dream car and perfect in every way. Except for your occasional breakdown, of course...

Still, for your age and the length of time I had you, the few breakdowns I had really weren't all that bad. I knew you like the back of my hand, every whirr and clank and rattle.

You've been there for me through a lot of years, and we're going to miss you. 

We may have added another car to our family, and we're excited as all get-out, but we'll never forget you (although we are very smitten with your "replacement"!)

At least you're staying in the family. I delivered you this weekend to your new owner, my little brother! He knows you better inside-and-out than I do, and he'll make sure you're healthy and happy.

Side note, anyone in the market for a 1978 Corvette Stingray? My brother is looking for a buyer.

in between

photo via

Big news: I gave my notice at work last week.

I've been thinking and praying about this decision for several months, so it's not like it was a spur-of-the-moment thing. Still, it's just now starting to hit me: I won't be coming back next year. This spring semester will be my last here as Lab Coordinator.

These students, these coworkers, this place that has been my world  the past three years will no longer be at the forefront anymore. After seven total years, I'm finally leaving Westmont.

For those of you who don't know, I received my bachelor's degree in Psychology three years ago and immediately started teaching in the department from which I had just graduated. The people I'd been taking classes with immediately became my students, and my professors and I were all of a sudden on the same level with each other. It was a trip, to say the least, but it was perfect for me.

However, I've known since the beginning that I don't want to teach Psychology labs forever. While it's been a wonderful experience and I wouldn't trade it for anything, it is time to move on. I'm ready to try something new!

photo via

Tim has been incredibly supportive during the whole do-I-or-don't-I progression, and I am forever grateful for it. I am incredibly anxious for what's next {because as of now that's a big huge question mark and that's pretty nerve-wracking!} but am excited for the process. The next few months of soul-searching are going to be a trip.