Autumn!!

Besides school and work taking up all of my time, I couldn't be more happy to welcome fall this year!   

Jake and I had a roommate but since I moved in after he and Jake had already been living here for a year, I was never fully comfortable taking over the house with al of my festive decorations because I felt like it was more of a man's house.  But a series of unfortunate events occurred last weekend and our roomie had to move out.  It was sad to see him go but now we have an extra bedroom, bathroom, and closet (I called it), annnnnd I get to go crazy with decorating my house with the stuff I love!

Wreath, Table, Pumpkin from Ross (similar to TJ Max  

So today...I set off to make a Fall Wreath to hang on my front door.  I ended up giving it to my great grandpa to hang on his 'front door' at his retirement home because he just needed some happy today.  So then to compensate, I went crazy at Ross and bought a million (4) other decorations for my own home.  

Gold Leaf Place Mat from Ross.

I made the candle centerpiece from the scraps leftover from the wreath  that I made.

 My homemade wreath. It was super simple...here is how:

1. Picture Frame (Dollar Store)

2. Leaves and Flowers (cut from bouquets from the dollar store)

3. Fall Stickers (Dollar Store)

4. Ribbon (Dollar Store)

Glue your hearts out!  I used super glue because I don't have a hot glue gun but I am sure that would have worked way, way better!

Oh and...the PRINTABLE!  Who doesn't love adorable, free printables?!  My Blessed Life has 12 of them that are all super cute and autumn themed.  I plan on framing a few and putting them in the stairway.  

Have a lovely first week of my second favorite season!

☮♡Nicole

        Louise☮♡

Ask and I shall receive!

Well that wasn't hard! Apparently the boyy was having second thoughts about sharing a desk too because he didn't even hesitate when I told him I was desk hunting!

Long story short, I went to every thrift and regular store (Target, Ross, Etc) and couldn't find anything that would fit in this little space so I went home wearing the saddest face that I could muster up and asked the boyfriend to build me a desk.  Honestly, I wasn't even expecting a 'yes', much less a 'Sure, let's go to Home Depot.'  But that's what happened! So off we went to that place that I loathed so much as a child and I picked out my $13 board that would soon make up an entire office.

He finds new ways to amaze me every day.  How lucky am I?
Anyway...want a tour of my new Cloffice?!
(Keep in mind people, my camera is the iphone 3)

How he did it!

See...perfect fit!

The Bentley Creature can't quite figure out why mom has so suddenly taken such a liking to the coat closet but he better get used to it because beside for work and maybe for sleep...this is where I will be 24/7. I am so in love!  

Thanks Jacob! 

☮♡Nicole 

     Louise☮♡

Closet Office Inspiration

I am one of those people who just has to have a space of my own.  A space where no one else's stuff is and a place where I can safely leave my stuff laying around.  
Jake doesn't really like this about me.  He wants everything to be shared, which is great until it comes to desks.  
He is a gamer and is constantly on his computer, at our desk, playing video games.  When school is in session, I am constantly at a desk doing schoolwork.  Because we have a roommate in the room that would be a shared office with two desks, Jake and I are currently sharing a single desk...its already not working and school hasn't even started yet.

This all said, we have a itsy bitsy teeny weeny coat closet downstairs that I am going to beg him to let me turn into a closet office of my own (This will be the hard part).  

Here is some of my inspiration.  And when I do get one because I will win this battle I shall call it my Cloffice.

Unfortunately, because we plan on renting out our condo in the future, I don't want to build anything so I will have to find a small enough desks and easy shelves but if there is a will, there is a way!

☮♡Nicole 

     Louise☮♡

DIY Chalkboard Poster

As I was sitting in bed this morning, looking around my room at everything I love, my empty wall was bugging me more than ever so I decided to go get a chalkboard to put on it.  I went to Ross and those were too small so I went to Office Depot and those were $30 so then I had the crazy idea of making my own.  Really, it's probably the easiest project in the entire world but I am proud of myself for actually making something rather than buying it overpriced.  So here are the 3 simple steps to create your own chalkboard poster for less that $10.  

1. Go buy a poster board from a craft/office supply store.  I got a thick foam board for $4.67.  I'm sure you could even use cardboard from an old moving box if you want to be real thrifty about it.  

2. Go buy chalk paint! Personally I like the spray can paint but chalk paint is chalk paint.  I got it at Home Depot for $5

3. Lay the poster board on a flat surface and paint!  Let it dry for about one hour and hang it up! So simple.

Now I just need to go buy some chalk.

☮♡Nicole

Radvent + a Project

If it hasn't become noticeable, I am trying to involve myself if blog projects so that I can expand my reader base.  As I talked about in my creativity radvent post, I am very shy about sharing my ideas and thoughts with other people but I think these projects may help me with that.  

A blog called Yours and Theirs is doing a series where each week you are prompted to take a picture of something ordinary.  I like it because it makes you notice the small things that may be looked over on a daily basis.  Participants of this project are supposed to email in their photos to be displayed on the yours and theirs blog but I think I'm going to skip that step. Hopefully, since its weekly, I'll be able to keep up on it better that the daily radvent.  I'm a week behind on this project so I'll upload both "yours and theirs" pics today.

And speaking of Radvent...

I think the topic of yesterday's radvent carries over quite nicely to this one because I feel like creativity and performance go hand in hand.  It's hard to preform something that isn't your own.  The topic asks a hard question; are you the audience or the director of your show that is life?  I think right now, I'm the paid actress.  I make my own choices but they are al guided by my job, my parents, my boyfriend, etc.  If I were the director, I could (not saying I would) just pick up and leave without a thought.  As of now, my career choice, my major, my relationship, and everything else is under a constant surveillance to ensure that I don't make any mistakes- and those words of caution that I choose to ignore are criticized.  So, yes, I am the actress of my show.  

Right now, I preform in my job, which I love more than anything.  Currently, I'd say it's my biggest stage. It's my own. While of course I have a boss and customers to satisfy, I get to run my portion of the studio the way I want to.  It is something my parents have not done, I am an important factor in the business, and all of the families like me.  I get to go there everyday and joke around with kids, parents, and my coworkers, do something that I find to be meaningful, and be myself.  I'd say I'm very much in my element when I go to work every day (all in slippers and ninja pants, I may add).  

Week 1: The view from a window in your house.

I am dog-sitting at my parents house for a part of this week which works out for this topic because its much prettier here than it is at my little apartment.  

Weeks 2: A recent gift you've been given. 

First of all, I don't understand why this is the topic for week 2 seeing as Christmas is so close.  I mean who really receives gifts two weeks before Christmas?! This should be the day after Christmas topic.  But enough judgment upon the week 2 topic...Here is a beautiful bouquet of flowers that my wonderful Jakob bought me before our Ice Skating date last week.  Go ahead, be jealous of our cuteness!

☮♡Nicole

Project 52

Week 3 of project 52! Its harder than I thought to take a new picture of something in my life once a week.  But anyway...weeks ago I posted some room design inspirations and I ended up going off of the black and white one.  Here is a little picture of it with Bentley (who blends in quite well with his new place!)

I may be a little biased but isn't he cute?!?!

 ☮♡Nicole

Bedroom Inspiration

In about a month I will be moving into my new townhouse with my friend Danielle.  This will be the fist time in a long time that I will be able to decorate my very own room and I can't wait!!!  I haven't decided how exactly I want it to look so I've been searching the web for inspiration.

I Like this one because its both chic and colorful

This is my favorite look.  I love the vintage feel and the ability
to add in whatever color I like by means of pillows, throws, and
other decor.

This look just makes me feel calm when I see it.  I would love to
have a bedroom that feels like an oasis.  Too bad my walls are tan...

                         ☮♡Nicole

Now I just have to find a way to do this on a budget...   $$$