room renovation: part 1

Over the next few days I'll be documenting the progress I make in re-doing my bedroom. Here's a few photos of how it started off, aka how desperately it needed renovating.

This was when the walls were at maximum collage capacity, and oh yes, everything was stapled & layered.

Ignore my great facial expression for a better angle of how the room was decorated

This is a more recent picture, when the collage retreated to only that back wall and on the cork boards surrounding my mirror. 

Much much too busy a style for my current taste. The collage is coming down, that ugly lavender is going away along with all the junk piled around my room. I'm looking for a simple, clean place to spend time relaxing in.

guilford craft expo

That's right-- I spent my Saturday afternoon at the Guilford Craft Expo with my mom and LOVED it! So many talented people, so much beautiful artwork and jewelry, but yikes those high prices! Making only one purchase of the day was a win for me (a cute green barette with a clay-floral design) but if I had more money I definitely could have spent it :3 Check out a few of my favorites from the day!

Anyone know what clear plastic you would use to fill in a necklace like that?

This quilt was $5000, but oh so beautiful. Would've loved it for my room!

The last photo was from an artist who was being kinda snotty about not wanting photos taken of his work- so I hid around the corner and snapped one, haha. So rebellious at the expo!

smoked salmon revival

So about a year ago I took a trip to London and had this delicious meal... looking through my trip pictures made me want to re-create it myself, so I found a recipe and made it for dinner last night!

The original, from London

My dinner!

Here's how I did it:
In a food processor, combine 1/4 cup mayo, 4 oz. cream cheese, 1 tbsp capers, 1 tbsp chopped red onion, 1-2 tsp lemon juice, 1/2 tsp horseradish. Process until smooth, spread on toast and lay slices of smoked salmon on top. Top with more capers, chopped onions, and fresh parsley.

july in photos

I've been living a simple life this summer, taking a break from the internet whenever possible and enjoying clean slates, big skies and peaceful days. Here are some hints as to what exactly that has entailed.

mombox

It's my mama's birthday today! Instead of being all boring about picking out a gift, I compiled a few mock BirchBoxes I called "MomBox" and stuffed them full of goodies I know she'll like. Included inside: a cute summer tank top, cupcake liners & patterns for decorating them with sprinkles, EOS hand lotion & a mini makeup bag from Le SportSac

I'm glad I got to recycle my Birchboxes in the process, too- they've been piling up in my closet for the past few months! Despite BirchBox being a pretty green company already, I always feel good about re-using things I have around the house :3