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My art history advisor told me today "I remember you were a great writer, but you never talked in class."

I guess this blog is a representation of just that. Minus the writing.

I am so over the stupid formatting of this blog. I cannot get motivated to post anything when it looks this crappy and I can't figure out how to change it. Blah.

Falling Down for Fall

I always think I never want summer to end but once the August heat reaches its climax I itch for cooler breezes. There is no place in the world better than Blacksburg, or the Blue Ridge mountains in general to experience fall. As a native Floridian I grew up with only one and a half seasons: summer, and cooler than summer. Although Virginia isn't the place I want to live much longer, I know I'd miss autumn. I swear it's the only season I can genuinely feel and smell, and this is personified best in Yankee Candle's "Autumn Leaves" which I found out today is discontinued. A past roommate had that candle and I fell in love with it. I would always light it after opening all the windows and cleaning the entire house. It instantly makes the house seem cleaner, and warmer, and I become more productive than I ever thought possible. On my day off today I knew I HAD to have it back. I went to 3 different stores, finally finding it on sale (!!!) at Bed Bath and Beyond, which I didn't even know we had. I wanted to stock up, and I probably should have, but I settled on two little tumblers and little sample size votive. Needles to say my house smells amazing now. I strongly suggest going out and snatching these up while you still can, you will not regret it!

Blue Donut House

My new home!



































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kind of cooler than blogspot. kind of by a lot.

Addicted

New favorite nail polish. It's much more mint green than this picture. This makes it look turquoise but it's really along the lines of this beauty below. How I would love to drive this car, with lovely painted nails, while eating a mint choc chip ice cream cone on the CA coast. Mmhmm

Somewhere

Isn't it strange how sometimes you can get really excited about a movie before you even really know anything about it? Or does this just happen to me...

Ain't no Liqour in this Town

Mason and I have officially reached townie status. We had plans to drive to the Christiansburg Walmart tonight to get some house essentials but came to the conclusion that neither of us are in decent driving condition.

I figured this was as good a time as any to update my neglected blog. After moving into the new house I discovered the cable was still connected so I was scared to go to Comcast and hook up the internet at the cost of loosing our free cable (which has quickly turned into the equivalent of a heroin addiction, I love it so much I hate it, and after 30 mins of using it I feel like a worthless slob but can't say no to another episode of "The Rachel Zoe Project," even though I hate myself the entire time I watch it). But eventually I realized my iPhone can't cut it as the sole source of internet. Especially with such a kickass (otherwise worthless) computer.

I haven't taken "after" pictures of the new humble abode but I will include some "before" shots. We basically walked in and our jaws dropped. As mason said, "I can see how I may have liked it at first, but you? What were you thinking?" Thanks....

About a month later however, I'm in love with the house. Especially the "den" which reminds me of the "tv room" I had growing up in Maitland, dark, cozy and awesomely comforting.

And now for the before shots... I promise to update more often...

Let's Shag

I embarked on cleaning my antique Greek Flokati rug yesterday afternoon. I inherited it from my grandma freshman year after probably 20 years in smoke without a cleaning. However, I think it suffered worse it's four years in Blacksburg. Two puppy trainings, spilt beer, wine, stray hookah coals, and the last straw was a "house sitter" pissing and spilling tobacco dip all over it while I was out of town. The bottom was powdering and too many bottles of revolve were lost in the pile.

Sooooo, in preparation for the move I decided to try to clean it myself and make the final decision to keep or toss (because it started to really gross me out with it's dog like stench and gray color). After calling countless rug cleaners (who I was willing and prepared to pay $100s) and having no one know what's flokati is but still offer to "give er a try" I decided to ruin it myself. I sprawled her on my driveway and started by taking a leaf blower to try to get rid of a lot of the dust. Next was hosing her down completely and shaking about 1/2 a box of Borax (my new favorite cleaning agent) over every inch. Long story short, and yes it is long and took me a total of about 5 hours, we were able to house the 500 lb wet dog onto this makeshift drying rack where she is amazingly whiter than I ever thought possible. As long as the rain holds off Through the weekend she'll be glowing in the new tiny house! More pictures to come later!



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Insomnia

Which do you prefer?





Regardless of the version, I still think it's one of the most romantic songs...

Catching my Breath

So I know it's been forever, but I'm still too tired and exausted right now to make a proper post. I all honestly, I'm not going to guarentee one until I move in 3 weeks. My trip(s) were fantastic to say the least and more necessary than I ever imagined. It never ceases to amaze me how being displaced in a completely different culture/environment allows you to reevaluate your life and the world you live in. (I have no idea why that text is showing up as a link, nor do I know how to change it.) Regardless, it was the experience of a lifetime, followed by slow transitions of more vacations in Florida and Eastern N.Carolina. Alas, I'm home. And for the first time in the entire 5 years I've lived in Blacksburg, this is the first time it actually feels like I've come home. This is the first time this town has felt more like home to me than Winter Park, and I'm thankful for it. I don't know if it was my cute (slightly slimmer) dog waiting for me, or just the excitement of what's to come in the next year, but I'm glad to be home.

17 hours down. 17 more to go.

Greetings from LA!












Manhatten beach, you are unreal.

Crazy Mormons in my book, thanks being interesting enough for me to want to read 24/7.

I'm loving Australian babies with adorable ugg booties...And British tourists at dinner, "They're American, they don't speak English." touché.

Grand canyon, you look way cooler from the air than I would ever imagine. I've started planning my next trip.

Oh, and thank you California for having the best tasting avocados in your health obsessed smogy cities.

Viva la Australia. Can't wait to smuggle a koala home for owsley.

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I wish they all could be California Girls

So I finally found the ideal vintage one piece bathing suit that I have been searching for ever since I fell in love with cupcakes and stopped doing sit ups in the summer. I feel so sophisticated and slightly granny in it and I cannot wait to wear it in Australia. Unfortunately I don't think it's gonna happen seeing as we are visiting in their winter. Oh well, it still has a special spot in my suitcase.

woah momma

What is it about finding awesome coupons that makes you feel like you're making money, even though you're probably spending money you wouldn't have? Whatever it is, it's heroin. Or at least what I would imagine a good shot of smack would feel like.
Yes this is just household cleaners. Why am I so obsessed?
1. The packaging is beautiful and never looks shabby if you accidentally leave it out in a mad dash to cleanup for company.
2. The scents are to die for, and 100% toxic free so you don't get a headache sniffing them like I do.
3. I have a phobia of strong cleaning chemicals, even though I do love bleach. There's just something about the giant warning and caution labels on the back that make the packaging look super unattractive, and scary. Not to mention, when you have a dog like mine that gets into everything and thinks everything is edible, it's just plan dangerous to have anything toxic around the house.

Method (which can be found at Target) has been giving away coupons for their new laundry detergent. $2 off when you print it offline. I've already maxed out on the household 3. I love the tiny bottle, especially now that I have to tote (rather than lug) it to and from the laundromat. I've had to go the often "trendy" but oh-so-expensive eco-friendly laundry detergent route for quite some time now because my skin is so sensitive. Trust me, it's not cheap. Which is why I jumped on this deal. I just printed off my last coupon because this week, for earth day apparently, all the eco-friendly shiz is even cheaper at Target. Aka I'm planning on going tomorrow and getting my super cute bottle of laundry deterg. for a whopping $3. YOU CANNOT FIND DETERGENT CHEAPER!!

But that is not what this post is about. The even better deal my friends is if you go to their website and buy the "spring clean home kit" which is listed online for $24 (although if you bought each thing individually it would be $33). When you're ready to check out enter coupon code "methodheartsmoms" and your total will be $14!! This is a great way to clean out under your sink and start with all the basics for a super low price. Granted I already have all of these things, minus the shammy cloth and disposable wipes both of which I have never been able to justify the expense to buy until now. Oh, and you get a bottle of the laundry detergent in your kit. Duh.

We'll always have Paris

I'm going to Paris for the weekend. In my mind. Living through these photos, listening to Edith Piaf, sitting at cafe tables in the spring air, eating macaroons.






I found this website though which allows you to rent vacation apartments all over the world. I wonder how easy it is to really do? I would so love to spend the summer in Montmartre......
(cue Amelie music)....

Dog Party

Hi, I'm Owsley. Mason says my lifestyle is just one step above that of a goldfish.



Hello, I'm miss pockets. As far as I'm concerned I'm queen of the universe. I'm beautiful and know it, so step off... Or else.



I'm Clifford. I belong to rob and Eileen. I have ADD and run from one window to another 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. I occasionally fart and bark with this rapid movement. Everyone loves me though because I'm sweet and have one blue eye.

Thrifting

Look at the awesome GE electric heater I just got at the thrift store for only $9.98!





I turned it on when I got home and holy smokes (thankfully no smoke) this thing heats up fast! I'm a little skeptical on how safe it is since my parents have drilled it into my head for as long as I can remember that space heaters=house fires, but it is super vintage-fab and usefull! I'm so pleased and almost wish it we're 80 degrees outside. Almost.

I wanted this victorian bird cage too but at $198 and the knowledge that I'm moving into a smaller place it was not gonna happen.


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Roanoke Rendezvous

On my way to Christiansburg yesterday to waste the entire beautiful day sulking away in the records room (basement) of the court house I suddenly missed my exit. That misses exit somehow landed me at the doorstep of bubblecake in Roanoke. Somehow... So i made a day of it and finally did everything I've always wanted to do in roanoke.


Like eat oodles of sugar which then gave me a headache.


Luckily I was armed with a togo mug so I could load up on free coffee allllll day long at every starbucks I saw. And I mean every. I never drink starbucks black coffee but when its free, it's free. Of course I played it off like I was so surprised at everyone I went to: "how much do I owe you? Oh it's free? No way! Thanks!" ;) The point of the day apparently is to show starbucks dedication to the environment. I wonder if that was still the point when I used the drive through...


Either way, I strolled market street, picked up some herbs, ate world famous hot dogs, went to the art museum (not everything I'd been waiting and hoping for by the way), and drove/got lost going home the scenic route to admire all the springness.



You know, Roanoke is kind of a groovy place.

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Teeny Tiny Houses

So I'm pretty sure we've decided on a place to live next year: a bright blue house. It's conveniently only two blocks from where we live right now (two blocks closer to downtown/main street), has a fenced in yard for the dogs, and is ridiculously cheap and charming. It's a downstairs "apartment" of the overall house. The upstairs has been vacant for a while, and according to the landlord (and my own opinion after looking at the practically gutted loft-esque second story) it will remain as such for a little while longer. Anyways, it took me a whole 24 hours to think it over because as the title of this entry suggests, it's a miniature house. It's only 800 square feet and has hardly any closets, unless you count the so-called second bedroom (which in my opinion is the intended closet for the master bedroom). Alas, I could have spent all day thinking about how much we'll be able to save (and how much we now get to spend on cable!) as well as how practical it is, however, I choose to spend all day at work on apartment therapy looking at tiny house after tiny house of adorable coziness that I so badly want to be a part of. If you don't know about this site you may as well be living in a white walled cell. They have this awesome contest going on right now though that's all about tiny houses. People send in pictures of their quaint little abodes which are arranged into categories on the site based on square footage. The link I've included is houses in the size range I will soon be moving into. So go take a look! Drool! And love whatever tiny place you may be in right now!