My Little Pink Room

At the end of April, I’ll be moving out of the house I have shared with three girls since 2010. When I first moved in, I painted my room pink, because I’ve always wanted to. Rainbows and flowers and sparkles abound. It’s super girly, so much so that we named my room The Unicorn Grove when we first moved in. The other girls named theirs The Belfry and The Duck Pond, if my memory serves me correctly. Our house we named the Bunny Hole, since we were all born in the year of the Rabbit. A lot of fun times have been had at the Bunny Hole, and I will really miss living here. While I’m sort of looking forward to developing a new, semi-adult style, today I looked around my little pink room and took note of all the things I’ll miss about it.

The display of all the sweet cards I’ve received over the past year. I hung them on a string calendar from 2011 my brother and sister-in-law gave me.

The Woodruff Ave vintage sign I found at the Rose Bowl Flea Market. It’s resting on my bookshelf now. (Woodruff is my last name.)

The anthro knobs I hung by my closet to hang my baubles on.

This candle, which I’m literally burning out. I have big plans to refill it with my own homemade candle, though!

The window that makes my room the hottest in the house. While that may not be ideal for some, this Florida girl thrives in the heat. As does this little baby succulent Valerie gave me. Look, he’s so alive, Val!

This quote inspires me to live and act extraordinarily, even in ordinary circumstances. Here’s to the beginning of a new Fairy Tale.

In My Bachelor Best

So I have been a fan of the Bachelor/Bachelorette tv show since Jillian's season in 2009. I was intrigued by a pair of red cowboy boots she wore with a black fringe dress. Something about it just spoke to me, and that's when I started googling her wardrobe from the show. And also watching every episode, ever, including the Bachelor Pad spinoff.

Over the years, as the format of the show becomes increasingly predictable to a seasoned viewer, I found myself fast forwarding to the end, when the elimination begins. This is the good stuff. This season, the "winner" wore a one-shoulder gold gown, and the "loser" wore a silver racer back dress. I've seen the Olympics, so I knew how it was going to go down. I didn't particularly appreciate either of their choices, but it got me thinking about what I would wear if I ever go on the Bachelor and make it to the final two. Which I would, because at this point I could write a handbook on this show. And then I would do the crazy switchup where the contestant reveals she has a boyfriend. Bam! Anyway, here are my choices, for the Bachelor, my next (and first) black tie wedding, or in the instance I get famous and get asked to Prom again. Or just for sitting around. Or heading to Trader Joe's. Actually, I went to Whole Foods recently sort of dressed up and it was really awkward. So I don't recommend that. Even if you're like, Hellooooo I am clearly just buying a bottle of cool champagne to share before I go out somewhere really cool, all you sad people who are not doing that!

Anyway, here are my choices, courtesy of Rent the Runway.

I die. Obviously, I am a winner. With the eye of a crow. 

Because I am a fairytale princess and I should be allowed to reflect that with all my netting and flounce. Also, I would have a more princessy look on my face. Because I would rule with a magnanimous fist. Except don't borrow my dress.

This one is aptly named meteor shower. I would expect this song Meteor to play every time I enter a room. Which is by a band I used to listen to a lot in college. Which I hope wouldn't trick my subconscious into thinking I should behave as a college student. That wouldn't be becoming of a lady in such a dress.

And lastly, this number. So floaty and airy and delicate, like a queen of the snowflakes and peppermints. And, let me tell you, I am a fan of the figure skating style mesh. For sure. For always.

Dresses, from top to bottom: Badgley Mischka, Reem Acra, Rebecca Taylor, Catherine Deane.

A few things brightening up my life lately:

This dress I ordered from tobi.com a few days ago that I got in the mail today. Lovvvves it. I found out about the website after gushing to an almost stranger about how much I loved her dress and she told me about the website. Some of it is kind of iffy, but I love this dress! I got two more as well. Because I can’t help myself. Current dress count: 80+

These two, for whom I've been babysitting lately. They’re the artists behind the fine art I featured in my last post.




Finally getting the right materials to make this necklace (tutorial here):

Finishing this heart painting that pinterest inspired. I used sparkles for the last heart:

Receiving this in the mail today!!!! I LOVE SPARKLEZ.

Using it to make homemade cards:

Get excited, Everyone I Know Who Has A Birthday. I’ve got an arsenal of sparkles, blank notecards, and a whole lot of enthusiasm. Um, I even made that gold liner for the envelope. I find myself impressive.

Sometimes the simplest things…

…touch your heart the most.

The best gifts are those that are a labor of love. Do you like my red dress? :)

10 Things That Make Me Happy (Part 2)

6. This picture of my little brother and I, taken in the late ‘90s. The height difference is still there, it’s just opposite now.

7. My collection of books from my childhood. Anne of Green Gables, Little House on the Prairie, The Secret Garden,  and Every. Roald. Dahl. Book. Published. They’re all worn and dogeared and some of them literally have been chewed by a dog. I used to reread books if I didn’t go to the library often enough and I swear I read all of them 10 times each. Really. I’m not exaggerating. And I went to the library once a week. I have this super power where I can ignore ANYTHING if I’m reading (including time) so I would read whenever I was sent to my room for punishment. Joke’s on you, Parents. The jig is up.

8. Straws. Preferably stuck in bubble water. I have one cup I love a lot that has a reusable straw (that is BPA free TOO!) so this love is not as bad for the environment as it may seem. Aren’t these vintage-inspired straws fun?

9. My grandmother’s engagement ring. She was married to my grandfather when she was 17, and starting having kids right after (8 in total). The ring is delicate and tiny and the one below from an etsy store with vintage engagement rings reminds me of it. She got a different one later on, and my mother gave me my grandmother’s first ring a few years ago after she passed away. It’s interesting to think about how different our lives are. Sometimes when I’m feeling particularly anti-social when I’m out I put it on my left hand. It’s kind of like wearing a post-it that says “don’t talk to me” on your forehead.

10. A vase full of fresh flowers, which I’ve been trying to keep on hand all summer. My favorite flower is the gardenia, but you can’t really buy those by the stem, so I found a plant down the street (bordering a local dive bar, no less) but I hate that I’m taking them away from everyone else (and their own little flower lives) so I haven’t picked one yet. Instead I’ve been relying on weekly 4-5 dollar bouquets from Trader Joe’s in pinks, purples, and yellows.

Those are my things! What things make you happiest?

P.S. Find the first half of my favorite material things here.