Head, Heart, and Hands

Well hey there stranger! 

It's been like...over a month since my last post, and I feel kind of awful about that. If you're a long time reader, you know this isn't COMPLETELY out of the norm. Instead of having a set schedule, I tend to just write about whatever the heck is going on in life at the moment. So if things are really busy, that may lead to a lot of content! OR it may lead to no content at all, because things are really busy. One of those double edge swords...

But now that we're back in business, let's talk! 

This post is called Head, Heart, and Hands because it's all about what's rolling around in my head, what's currently stolen my heart, and what shenanigans I've been working on with my hands. Catchy right? :) 

HEAD: FRIENDSHIP

As you know (or you'll now learn) I'm fortunate enough to contribute to the fan-freak'n-tastic female-empowering blog Strong Is Our Sexy. Earlier this month, I wrote an article entitled Making Friends as a Grown-Up: How to Find Your Squad. During the writing process, I couldn't help but get a little nostalgic. My track record with friendship isn't entirely the greatest, and as a youngster involved a lot of hurt feelings and a lot of drama. It wasn't until high school when I finally found a rock-solid group of crazies I now consider family. 

How do we connect with certain people SO HARD, and wonder what the hell we would ever do without them? 

Those individuals who impact your world SO MUCH, though you may not get to see some of them that often, but without question are your friends. This thought has been on my mind lately because I've come to realize how precious those connections truly are. Maybe I'm growing up, who knows, but one of my resolutions for 2016 is to get out and spend time with those friends IRL. This may all feel uber sappy, and that's because it is. So to all my buddies out there: I APPRECIATE AND ABSOLUTELY CHERISH WHAT WE HAVE! I LOVE YOU AND THANK YOU FOR LOVING ME!

Alright, enough emotions. Moving on!

HEART: CURRENTLY CRUSHING ON...

1. My spiralizer!!!! Ohmigodyouguys OBSESSED! 
Voodles, veggetti, veggie noodles, whatever you want to call them, that's what I'm making.

I got the KitchenAid spiralizer attachment for Christmas, and since then I think we've used it at least once a week. It's strangely hypnotic watching your zucchini be spun around into curly little ringlets. Honestly it's like dinner and a show. Not only does it slice, it can peel AND core, so apples aren't out of the question either. If you're like me, and have that oh-so-coveted KA Stand Mixer just sitting on your counter, treat yourself to the spiralizer and get cooking!

2. Shaving my face. 
Yes you read that right. Who DOESN'T get frustrated by the peach fuzz that can make your face look dirty even after you wash, or those wiry little black hairs that seem to pop up overnight!? And don't get me started on the upper lip. I used to think it was just another annoying thing to live with, until a friend of mine introduced me to Twinkle Eyebrow Razors.

Ladies, you need these in your life. 
After you've washed and dried your face, gently use the razors to shave your face. Forehead, cheeks, chin, neck, lip, everything. Be sure to move in the direction of your hair, and although it feels kind of strange at first, OMG is it worth it. Your makeup with go on smoother, your skin tone will look more even, and you'll notice a sort of  fresh-faced "glow". Total game changer. 

3. SCANDAL
Yes I know I'm late to the game. 
Yes I've watched EVERY episode on Netflix. 
No I haven't seen any of the current season, so don't you DARE tell me what happens! 

HANDS: SLEEPING AND SET DESIGN
Since we got our California King mattress back in January of 2015, we've been sleeping on the floor. Well not entirely on the floor, we used a box spring, but pretty much on the floor. For a while we trolled Craigslist for a bed frame, but the unique size of a California King made for slim pickings. Then one day Eric had the idea to talk to his crazy talented grandpa, and see if he could build us a bed. Being the generous craftsman he is, Gpa instantly accepted the challenge, and proceeded to build us the coolest bed frame a girl could ask for.

It took all of 10 seconds for me to fill those gorgeous drawers with shoes. Aside from painting them black, this isn't technically a project we can take credit for. But since it's the most exciting thing that's happened to our house since November, I'm counting it. 

The latest thing keeping us busy was painting the set for Shrek the Musical Jr. My hometown middle school is putting on the play, and as the current Drama Department Art Director, my job is to make the scenes beautiful! 

It was a ton of work, and a ton of paint, but when we left I was pretty damn pleased. These are only a handful of the pics, so if you want to see the rest you'll have to go see the show!

Well that got super long super fast. 
Idk why I'm surprised, what else is going to happen when you disappear for a month? The Head, Heart, and Hands format worked out though! Maybe it could be a series! Might help keep me on a schedule of sorts...key word "might". 

Squeezing in Some Small Stuff

Every relationship has it's dry spells. 
Giant gaps of time where excitement is at a halt, and nothing occurs except the very predictable and mundane. 

Every since wrapping up the kitchen bathroom makeover, our poor house has hit a major dry spell. It's not that we've run out of things to do, oh no, it's just finding the time to do it! Between Eric's sports schedule, weddings, trips, and the holidays; September through November have completely escaped me. And looking ahead, December will be quite the same.

But even though the big projects are still on the back burner, there HAVE been a few moments here and there to squeeze in a couple tiny improvements.  

First up is the demise of yet ANOTHER boob light. 

The upstairs hallway is where our latest victim resides, and I've been searching for the perfect replacement for a while now. It couldn't be too big, or hang too low, otherwise Eric would hit his head. It needed to be flush with the ceiling, but also interesting and attractive. 

A few weeks back, I found this beauty on Craiglist with an asking price of $35. I adored the clean lines and geometric shapes of the glass, and just knew it would be perfect. A few text messages, and a little visit with a BEYOND adorable couple and their two dogs later, and it was mine! 

When I first saw this light, it instantly reminded me of a similar version I had seen at Shades of Light...except without the smack-you-in-the-face price tag.

I have no clue where this original fixture came from, but I like to tell myself I found the deal of a lifetime. 
$35 is better than $169 any day.

A quick removal and installation via the husband, and our good friend Jared who stopped by, and we were in business! 

The lines and shadows casted on the ceiling just add to its visual presence, and I think it's magical. 
Chalk up another win for Craigslist! 

Another thing that's constantly being tweaked is our gallery wall. When I last mentioned this wall, it was back in August of 2014 (click HERE to see the post), and looked like this. 

Over the year, we've added quite a few pieces to the puzzle (thank you weddings!), and it now looks like this! 

I freaking love this wall. Finding new art, pictures, and funky treasures to fill in the blank spaces is a challenge I'm constantly working on. 

Moving outdoors, Eric has been determined to finish up the remaining details of the pergola before Winter. He added a few more thin beams to the top, covered the support beams with nicer planks, and stained everything to match. 

I still can't get over how great this looks. Once the weather warms up again in the Spring, we'll start planning the patio reconstruction. Fire pits and twinkle lights are definitely in our future, but for now I think we're at a pretty fantastic stopping point. 

In a few weeks we're hosting our Framily Christmas party, so getting the house to full on holiday-mode will be my next big task. 

But not until AFTER Thanksgiving, because well...I'm not insane.  

Gallery Walls = A Grownup's Version of a Sticker Book

One of the things I love most about our home is the ever growing gallery wall. I've always been a collector of things, and as a child I collected everything! I had dozens of sticker books, a mountain of Beanie Babies (which I cut the tags off of because they bothered me #FacePalm), and even a nice assemblage of swizzle sticks from Pier 1. There was just something about gathering together items I enjoyed, and displaying them I found extremely satisfying. 

Hanging said items on our wall feels like an acceptable way to continue that obsession...but in a more organized and adult fashion (read "grownup sticker book"). Plus it's kind of like a peak into our life right  when you walk in! Whether it's a print, picture, card, or drawing, everything that I hang on our gallery wall has some sort of special meaning to us. I talked about wanting to start the gallery back in this post as we finished up the painting on the first floor, and needless to say it has grown quite a bit. When people visit our home, I just love watching them examine each picture and ask us where it came from or what it is. So I figure "Why not share it with everyone?!", maybe it'll spark some inspiration to begin your own gallery wall, or even give you ideas for some easy art to decorate with. 

First up, the main wall in our foyer: 

1. I won this "Eve of Destruction" print by the artist Hannaha Damaszek  in a giveaway hosted by the blog Because It's Awesome. I talked about it in this post, and framed it in an IKEA Ribba Frame.

2. This little pineapple card, as well as the frame, was in the $1 bins at Michael's. 

3. I spray painted this frame from a thrift store silver, and filled it with a picture from our vacation last year. 

4. I picked some of my favorite sketches from my trip to Italy, and stuck them in a thrift frame spray painted silver. 

5. This is the key to our first apartment in an IKEA Ribba frame. 

6. "Embrace the current season of your life" print by my friend Michaela from Happy Apple in a thrift frame spray painted silver. 

7. Wedding photo collage in an IKEA Ribba Frame.

8. Pineapple watercolor print in a thrift frame spray painted silver (I printed off a small 

version, but you can buy the larger version HERE).

9. Hanging pedestal from TJ Maxx, with a small silver vase and silk flower from Walmart.

10. Photo of our wedding party in an IKEA Ribba Frame. 

11. "Break the monotony. Do Something strange and extravagant!" - Emerson. My mom sent me this card during collage, and I put it in a thrift frame spray painted silver. 

12. Wedding photo collage in an IKEA Ribba Frame.

13. Peacock broach I had on my wedding bouquet displayed with a JAGU-Prosperity fabric swatch. I then put everything in an IKEA Ribba Frame.

14. "Whiskey Soda Rock and Roll" print created by my friend Elyse Myers, in a thrift frame painted silver. 

15. Painted wooden "W" I found at a Goodwill. 

16. Wedding photo of my Grandmother taken in 1957 in an IKEA Sondrum Frame.

On the wall going up the stairs: 

17. Society 6 pineapple print.

18.  Wedding photo collage in an IKEA Ribba Frame.

19. DIY Friend's "She's your lobster" quote in an IKEA Sondrum Frame.

20. Abstract acrylic and watercolor painting I recently completed.

It may look a little goofy to some since it's not "complete", but to me that's part of the fun. Like a giant puzzle I get to keep adding the pieces to.

Decorations don't have to be expensive or extravagant. Pictures of your family, a greeting card that is extra special, fabric from a favorite old dress, notes you passed to each other in High School, or trinkets you brought home from vacation are all fair game. 

If you're going to pound a bunch of nails in your wall, make sure it's to hang something that is meaningful to you. The idea that one day we'll probably have to fill all these holes and paint over the walls is a bit daunting, but if it makes us extremely happy in the meantime, it's totally worth it. 

Winner Winner Chicken Dinner!!!

HAPPY MONDAY!!!! 

Now normally I am not a fan of the Mondays, but THIS Monday had a wonderful surprise waiting for me!

Last week I entered a contest held by the beautifully inspiring blog Because It's Awesome. She was giving away a painting from by UK Artist Hannah Adamaszek, who does amazing work. I just love the color and washes that are featured in her pieces. 

Anyway, I left a comment on what piece I loved the most, and went on with my day. 

This morning though, while looking through my blog feed, I spotted this: 

My heart stopped....could this "Bethany" really be me??? 

It sure was!

I HAD WON!!!!! EEEEKKKKKK!!!!!!!!!! 

I am so excited, I can't get over it. In a few days this little beauty will be in my hands and probably the first thing we hang up in our hew home! 

Isn't it stunning? The colors, that look in the woman's eyes, the perfect blend of street art and fine art. 

Thank you Because It's Awesome! 

I love your blog, and I know I'm going to love my new piece of art. 

So if you like interior design, shopping, art, style, happiness, and fun; go check out this blog and add it to your reading list! 

 Peace!