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xo

Five on Friday - Link Up

I thought it would be fun to get involved with some other bloggers.... so here it goes!


1 - Upcoming 'Friendsgiving' Celebration

eInvites via PaperlessPost!

We are hosting a dinner for everyone in our Village (read: our church's word for 'small group') two days before actual thanksgiving, since most of us won't be here! I am beyond excited as this is my first time hosting a Thanksgiving type celebration, and my hosting brain is on overload. I bought cloth napkins, i'm crafting, i'm dreaming up signature cocktails, and reading as many magazines as i can to find perfect recipes. Here, here, and here are where i'm getting some of my ideas!

2 - Bath & Body Works Seasonal Candles

Some people are all about Christmas music.... I'm personally all about the candles. If you ever are at my house, chances are I'm burning at least one. But holiday season cables are the BEST! I've been enjoying Bergamot Estates and Leaves for Fall.... they're so cozy without being overwhelming (I'm not into sweet candles, so the apple pies and pumpkin doughnuts are NOT my personal style!), but just this week as the temperatures went FREEZING around here, I had to bust out a Fresh Balsam candle at my desk. It makes me so happy! I also have a coupon for $10 off $30 purchase.... which I intend to use during a 2 for $22 sale and get myself 4 candles for $30! EXCITED! Any new scents I should try?

3 - Upcoming Trip

Capella Ixtapa, in Ixtapa, Mexico

Big Sky, Montana

In just under two weeks, i'll be leaving for about 13 days to celebrate my first anniversary in Mexico, Thanksgiving/Christmas with Matt's family in Bismarck, ND, and take our annual snowboarding trip to Big Sky, Montana!! Thanks to a little something called the Multi-Way ticket, we were able to do all three of these trips by hopping from place to place instead of making three separate trips - for the price of just ONE of these trips. BNA -->ZIH, ZIH-->BZN, BZN-->BIS, BIS-->BNA. Yeah. We'll be on a lot of freaking planes.... and going from 90 degrees down to 9 degrees. Also, i'm convinced i'll only take a carry on. So wish me luck ;) But I can't wait to get in all sorts of quality time! QT with just Matt, QT with family, and QT with awesome friends. Stay tuned for updates on these travels.

4 - Steve the Kitten :)

This little guy is 100% personality and he makes me *SO HAPPY*. Yes, I am a cat lady, and i'm pretty excited about it. I wanted a kitten my entire life and Matt got him for me as a birthday present this year. The gift that actually keeps on giving.... because every day he snuggles up next to me and purrs like crazy... and it's all i ever wanted. I love my little Stevie kitty! He's sitting on my lap as I'm writing this... what a little love. Also, disclaimer: I did not name him Steve. The deal was if I got a cat, Matt was allowed to pick the name... and the name would definitely be Steve. So here we are, with our Steve. But i think it fits him pretty well ;)

5 - New Routine

Now that it's cold outside, it's even HARDER to get out of bed, especially with nowhere to go at a specific time most mornings.... so i decided I needed a routine. I get up and walk about two blocks to 8th & Roast, a coffee shop right by my house. Despite the cold, the walk there warms me up, and i get to enjoy a nice cup of coffee when I get there. Sometimes I bring a magazine or a journal, sometimes I've just been sitting and relaxing. It's become an extremely enjoyable part of my day.

Happy Friday!
xo

Link up here if you'd like to join!

An Autumn Playlist

There are seasons in Tennessee, which I greatly appreciate about it. Florida never afforded me reasons to wear scarves or build bonfires, so I'm into it.

Cambridge in the Fall. You should go sometime.

I'm all about music that fits the mood, and fall has it's own special mood. It's not quite the holidays, but it's definitely not bright and cheery like summer anymore, and i LOVE IT.

Bring on the cool days and mellow tunes.

Sweater Weather Playlist

 

"Wait for Me" - Kings of Leon (Loving the new album)
"She Lit a Fire" - Lord Heron
"The One That Got Away"  - Civil Wars
"Hero" - Regina Spektor
"The Enemy" - Andrew Belle
"Biko" - Bloc Party
"Back to Black" - Beyonce + Andre 3000 (Great Gatsby Soundtrack)
"Anna Begins" - Counting Crows
"Wake Up" - Arcade Fire
"Codes and Keys" - Death Cab for Cutie
"Things We Lost in the Fire" - Bastille
"Natural Anthem" - Postal Service
"Riptide" - Vance Joy
"Big Jet Plane" - Agnus & Julia Stone
"Knocked Up" - Kings of Leon
"Time and Time Again" - Counting Crows
"1957" - Milo Green
"Alexithymia" - Anberlin
"When Finally Set Free" - Copeland
"Heart Shaped Box" - Nirvana
"Cautioners" - Jimmy Eat World

A little mix of old favorites and stuff i'm just hearing. I'd highly recommend the Andrew Belle record, as well as the new Kings of Leon and newcomer, Bastille - I'm wearing all three of them out! And the new Arcade Fire was just released... I'm so looking forward to that album!


Are there any other fall releases I've missed?

xo

I'm not even going to attempt to catch up

Wow - i've lived in Nashville almost 9 months and this baby has gotten absolutely no lovin'. Well, that's about to change.

To give you a brief rundown on the last 9 months:

- i moved here for a job
- said job didn't work out
- i met a boy
- he seems to be working out quite well ;)
- i got a bunch of other jobs i hated
- i finally quit them to be FREELANCE MARKETING AND PR (yay!)
- my niece, Avery Nicole was born :)
- i still travel all the time
- i started a garden
- my roommates are awesome
- and i still love Nashville :)

Just a few snapshots, you get the idea. Now that you're as caught up as you could be, i promise to return to the blog-o-phere.

Until then!
xo

So Far So Good - 2011

I just thought back to the beginning of the year, when i wrote a blog on my New Years Resolutions. I thought it'd be good to see how i'm doing so far...

This year (2011) i'm trying to ignore the fact that it's a new year, and just get on with the things i resolve to do. They include but are not limited to:
- travel somewhere every month (this can be in state, in the country, or in the world)
- blog more (my goal within my goal is once a week... It's January 19th, so i'm kind of already behind on this must.not.psych.self.out)
- successfully complete my Project 365 (i've got a lot of accountability on this one)
- stop biting my stupid fingernails
- build up my portfolio at work.... and land new clients
- keep up with the crafting (check out my store at avecamourpaper.etsy.com :)
- learn to fly! (hey, you gotta aim high sometimes)

 #1 - Travel:

This isn't a hard one for me. Comes almost as naturally as breathing or eating. So i shouldn't have worried too much about that.

I've visited only 1 country (England) and 5 states (Illinois, Colorado, Minnesota, Tennessee, Kansas) driven thousands of miles on my 2 road trips, and been all over the state. Mission accomplished. Upcoming trips: Chicago, New York. Hopefully Savannah and St Augustine somewhere in there...


It's kind of like writing things on your to do list that you know you will definitely do, like "make dinner", just so you KNOW you'll have something to cross off (nobody else does that? just me?)


#2 - Blog More:

Well, we all know the truth here. I have blogged more, but haven't quite stuck to 1 per week. I'll keep working on it.

#3 - Complete Project 365:

This i am happy to report is in full swing! I love this project. I really think i'll miss it next year (i guess i could go for round 2...) - if we're friends on Facebook, feel free to check out Part I here and Part II here.

#4 - Stupid fingernails:

Essie Fall Collection - Love.

As my nail polish collection grows, my nails get longer and stronger! I've found that keep polish on them stops me from biting. It's a pretty great method, and i highly recommend having to-go nail polish remover and spare polish around if you're trying this method!

#5 - Build up work portfolio/land new clients:

Done and done. Work has become amazingly enjoyable, and i love every single one of my clients. Seeing them in the paper multiple times in a week has been a great experience, and it's even better to hear someone ask who they are working with... because they love what's being done! It's been a pretty awesome year.

#6 - Keeping up with crafting:

My focus has changed a little... but i've jumped into design a little and i'm enjoying it. I guess as long as i'm creating something, i'm a happy girl.

#7 - Learning to Fly:

Other than the Lady A cover of the song, i've got nothin. But i think i'll keep working on that one...

until next time. xo.

bloggy blogs

As i've recently found out, at least 5 people read my blog. yay! So since i've got 4 or more people to entertain... i guess i'll keep writing.

I thought i'd give a shout out to the other blogs I enjoy. These are usually what you can find me reading in the evenings or on my lunch break.


The Album Project
 http://thealbumproject.net/2011/02/show-review-jimmy-eat-world/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed:+thealbumproject/feed+(The+Album+Project)&utm_content=Twitter

The Album Project does daily recommendations for music, talks about new releases every tuesday, and reviews concerts. The link a placed above is reviewing the Jimmy Eat World show i went to a few weeks ago, and i agree whole heartedly with his review! I follow him on twitter (@thealbumproject) which makes it easy to keep up with new posts. If you're looking for good (in my opinion!) music and reviews, this is the place to get them,


Hyperbole and a Half
http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/2010/06/this-is-why-ill-never-be-adult.html

Allie is the author, and she writes true stories that have actually happened to her (although she admits, slightly dramatized for humor) and accompanies each story with pictures she's drawn on Paintbrush. The link above is to my favorite post about why she'll never be a real adult. I almost cried i was laughing so hard. My best friend Kim introduced me to this blog, and i am very thankful for this... so i figured i'd pass the love along :)


P.S. - I Made This
http://psimadethis.com/

My new current obsession - do-it-yourself crafts! These are especially good, because Erica takes ideas and inspiration from current fashion and designers and makes simple ways to make the trends yourself. I have her book and follower her on Twitter (@psimadethis) and i've made a couple of pieces inspired by her. She's amazing and can probably make anything out of sharpies, felt, and hot glue.


Nuestie's News
http://nuestiesnews.blogspot.com/

My lovely roommate. She mixes it up between thought provoking Biblical topics, favorite things, and even awful first dates. Chances are, you'll relate to her. The best part about her blog is it's how i'll keep up with her in a few months when she leaves for Haiti for 2 years.


Ravenous Libby
http://ravenouslibby.com/

My dear friend and foodie, Libby Andrews, covers all the food topics from Healthy Eating to the new delicious foods she tries when on vacation. Either way, the photos will make you hungry and want to go out immediately and buy some type of food you can't even announce.


So those are probably the ones i visit the most - check out a new blog this week, and see what these lovelies are up to! You might find something new to read.

I'm really bad at blogs.

So.... i've successfully started and deleted 5 blogs in the last 12 months. 1 random wordpress blog, 1 joint blog with friends, 3 tumblr, I think that's a little out of control. I'm hoping that a new fresh blogger account will be my inspiration.... Let's see if i can stick with this one.

My main reason for deleting: i can't keep a writing style that i like. Life is good and beautiful, and truly a gift from God... but my head is always a mess and i am too much of a multi tasker to keep a focused blog. Some days i'm serious and want to get my thoughts out on the table. Other days, i just want to post a photo and tell a funny story.

My main reason for wanting a blog: all the reasons i just listed above. So i guess this will just have to be an unfocused, messy, abstract, somewhat meandering blog.

So i guess the answer is, do it anyway.

The truth is, i just like to write. I'm not sure if i'm exceptionally gifted at it, but i like it for the storytelling. And that's what i intend to do - story tell.

I've been really blessed in life to have a lot of cool experiences. Or at least i thought they were cool, and i'm thankful for that feeling of blessing and the stories i have as a result. Chances are i'll reach into the vault from time to time and bring out a good story from the days of yore. I hope you find them entertaining, moving, or relatable.

I have a feeling that we're all much more alike than life would like us to think.