It's been too long!!

Hello lovelies! I have been very negligent of my blog and I apologize. But since my last update I have moved (again). This time to a large two bedroom apartment that I get to feel like a real adult in. Big change up from the 350 square foot mother-in-law quarters!! No pictures yet but once I get things how I want them and cleaned/organized (I'm challenged in that department sometimes) I will make sure to share. And now that I have a second bedroom/office to decorate I will likely be seeking advise at some point. Hope you all have a lovely weekend and I will be posting soon, promise!!

Introducing Lennon

This last weekend I brought a wonderful little kitten into my home.

After an arduous few days with a chalk board filled with name options (he came with the name Louie which I found to be highly inadequate), I finally decided on one that never even made it on the board....Lennon, after John Lennon of course. I guess when it's right you just know.

He is such a little delight and has absolutely no fears. He has even met my parent's dog and my tiny little four pound kitten was the one chasing a full grown border collie around the house.

I promise not to become an obsessive blogger about him but I deemed his presence in my life introduction worthy.

Photo Hanging the Easy Way

 So I've been collecting pieces of art for my bedroom and was finally ready to put them up, but the thing that I've always found hard about hanging groupings of art is the placement. This time around I tried to be a bit smarter about it and cut pieces of newspaper to the dimensions of the art so that I could move them around the walls and decide where I wanted everything.

 

Once I decided placement I used the art to measure where the nails needed to go and marked it out on the newspaper. Since I'm renting I figured the fewer accidental holes the better. 

 The I just nailed into said spots and pulled the newspaper down from the walls...

and replaced it with the art. 

The largest piece is still in need of a frame so the newspaper will stay up until I get around to finding one that I deem worthy. 

Hanging art has never been simpler!! 

Happy Hanging!

Crafty Weekend

I took this weekend to create a couple of things for my new abode. 

I'm not a huge wreath fan, but ever since I saw my first yarn wreath I feel in love, so I decided to make my own.

 My first felt roses...

 which eventually made it onto my first yarn wreath. It was definitely worth how long it took to make!

 I then tore apart a book of love letters (and yes I felt guilt with every tear) to make the background for a new piece of art.

The art is not finished yet, I want to draw on top of the letters. But the wreath is ready to adorn my door :)

My New Abode

Long time no see blog world...so I just recently moved to the most wonderful little apartment! It's the mother-in-law apartment attached to the side of a 100 year old craftsman. I love it so much!! Here's a little sneak peak of my wonderful little home.

 My first sunset in the new place, well at least the first I watched

 This is my new little wild neighbor, he/she is around so much I think I might venture to give him/her a name (a unisex one of course)

 This is my view, I'm not the biggest fan of golf but watching people golf in the rain and lightening last week was quite entertaining

I'm slowly working on making my adorable 350sq.ft. mine and I'll be sure to update as I go!!

For the Love of Old (music that is)

So, I have a new obsession with something old...records! My parents have had a couple of boxes of their old records just sadly stored away in the garage for years and I recently bought a record player so that I could enjoy them (I have very similar music taste to my mother when she was my age). I am absolutely loving it! The sound quality is beautiful and even the well warn and slightly warped records add what to me is a lovely scratch (the true sound of authenticity).

I'm still in the process of going through the records, so many are collaborations between people who were part of major bands before they got really famous and I must admit I do not know names very well, but I'm learning. In my pursuit of this new obsession I have discovered the most amazing little record shop, right here in Visalia. Velouria Records is owned by a woman who has an obvious and true passion for the music that stocks her bins. I'm making this place a habit :) visit Velouria here

Staying in the theme of wonderful music, I'm also reading a new book, The Ballad of Bob Dylan by Daniel Mark Epstein. I have always loved Dylan's music and been intrigued by his story, and reading it written by someone who writes as lyrically as Epstein makes my intrigue even greater.My past experience with biographies has made me leery of them, but this novel has made me eat my words.

On a completely unrelated topic, look at what the sunset looked like today:

Ah-freaking-mazing!! On that note...have a blessed night and day tomorrow!!

Summer has come!

The heat of summer has begun, and although I am not too happy about it, the garden sure is. So I thought I would give a little picture update as to how everything is doing.

 My succulents are even starting to grow little babies. I love these plants! What else in life requires so little care yet grows and maintains its beauty so wonderfully!?!

 I am so intrigued by the eggplant stems and flowers, they have an almost alien-like appearance.

 This little baby is one of our heirloom tomatoes that I am so excited for!! A little longer in this upper 90s heat and we will have hundreds on tomatoes ready to pick (and I'm not kidding, all of the tomato plants are full of green tomatoes just waiting to rippen)

 How great will it be to walk out to the garden for fresh herb     

when we are cooking!?!

The beds are filling out so much! We may have to change our layout next year, I have a feeling that once the cantaloupe grows in this front bed will be a tad-bit tight.

This next picture is obviously not of my garden, but my bedroom. I just put my pictures back up so I thought I would share them with you all. They are all photos that I have taken around my parents yard and the succulents were from the location of one of my best friend's wedding. It is so easy to make your own art! I just had these blown up (for super cheap) and framed them (which again can be done on the cheap, think thrift stores).

 Today's plan to cope with the heat:

Iced tea and pineapple, yum! Even the dog is joining in on the cool down, after a short time playing outside she is happily chomping down on a nice, cold piece of ice (her favorite on a hot day). Hope your summer stays cool and fun!