hearts on a string.

I haven't had a lot of ambition to read through a lot of blogs lately because we all know it can absolutely consume your soul for hours on end. Don't get me wrong, it is an incredibly satisfying, inspiring thing to get consumed by but I really do get lost in reading sometimes! It is very similar to me and Etsy. Don't even get me started on that one.

So today I stumbled upon a cute little idea for a creative, inexpensive Valentine's Day decoration. I couldn't keep this one a secret. I am thinking these would look cute in our apartment but also in my office! I am already thinking of the various ways I can change it up and make it more "me" so I am toying with the idea of adding a splash of color and maybe even some photos.

If you are interested in giving this a try, there is a full tutorial over on the blog Dottie Angel. Now I just need to find myself a book I can cut up...!

p.s.

Someday I am going to create a wall like this. I think I'm in love with its adorable cuteness.

spaces.

Some days, I really dislike living in an apartment. I dislike the boring colors on ALL the walls and not being able to change them. I dislike knowing that it really isn't ours, and it's only a temporary space. And I also really dislike paying rent to a landlord who is less than noble.

Of course there are plenty of other things I really love about living in an apartment. Like not having to worry about shoveling or blowing snow after a blizzard. Or paying to fix something when it stops working. And I guess the lower-than-if-we-lived-in-a-house utility bills we currently pay, although that could be debated.

Regardless of my love or dislike, there is one thing I know for sure: I cannot wait to make a cute office/work space just like these pictures show below. If I had anything that looked like these spaces, I would definitely find a job I could do from home. Perhaps I should add that to my goal list for 2011? :)

right up my alley.

I have several blogs that I check periodically...multiple times a day. Mostly I am looking for updates on free samples, coupons or one-heck-of-a-deal, but the other day, to my surprise, I came across a post for a DIY autumn wreath.

Now a few weekends ago, my good friend A [and former boss while I was working at The Forum] gave D and I our wedding gift. A is an Uppercase Living representative and has been struggling to find a frame to fit our names but finally found the perfect one and gave it to us. We absolutely LOVE it! So much in fact, that I changed where I had originally thought I wanted to hang it and decided rather to make it a focal point in our "entryway" right when you come into the apartment.

Well, after looking at it, I realized that what I currently had hanging on the wall wasn't going to work at all. So I took an old cupboard door that I bought at Habitat for Humanity Restore [in Moorhead] about two years ago, and decided to make a chalkboard to hang underneath it. I completed that little project and found myself with another empty space on the wall. And that's when I remembered the blog post I had read...and I knew right away it would be the perfect piece to my entryway puzzle.

The end result? An arrangement I am not only in love with, but also rather proud of how well it turned out. Not to mention, it cost me next to nothing to put together. The picture is a little fuzzy but you get the general idea!


If you are interested in creating your own wreath, check out the original post with step by step directions at Centsible Savings. I made mine pretty "fluffy" but you can do it any way want - so fun and easy!

back on track.

Back to wedding posts! First things first...my dress is in!!! Mom is planning to come up next weekend and we will try it on for the first time...oh me oh my!

(I thought this adorable picture of Brynn was 100% fitting to use to describe my excitement - isn't she just a doll??! )

Now, with the dress ready to be picked up (and in my possession) the issue of shoes becomes a bit more pressing as no alterations can be done until the shoes are decided on. Hmmm. So I spent some time last night searching for shoes. (thanks Chmoe and G for your opinions - believe it or not, you do have one and it is held in high regard!)

I saw these fun blue shoes at the mall and snapped a photo with my phone. Kind of fun, but are they exactly what I am looking for in a wedding shoe?? I don't think so.

After some more searching and finding all sorts of shoes with price tags that seem to continue to rise the more I look, I got to thinking of an idea. Why in the world can't I order the basic shoe that I want and add details that I would like but can't find for a decent price?!

Genius! Don't ask me why it took me this long to figure out...I'm kind of ashamed of myself!

I was looking around a British site (yes, not in the U.S.) and I found a PERFECT pair of shoes. I emailed the company to find out a few more details, most importantly, if they ship to the United States. After that, I will make a decision. I'll keep you updated!

Also, I stumbled upon a website with centerpiece ideas and I absolutely LOVE this birch look and feel they have incorporated into the decorations. It makes it look so natural and simple yet elegant...I love that. Once again, it gets my head a-spinning...