plant a tree

HAPPY EARTH DAY !!!

Some easy ways you can help out the planet:

• Recycle your old fleece! Patagonia (an outdoor outfitter company) will melt down all donated fleece to make new products!
• Turn off your computer instead of using a screen saver (screen savers still use energy)
• B.Y.O.B. (to the grocery store, of course) OR if you must use plastic grocery bags, collect them and bring them by your local Publix to recycle
• Change to compact fluorescent light bulbs. If you're worried about the light quality, go for the premium ones. You can choose from either bright white or buttery golden light, and the cost difference is only about $3. If that is still too much of an expense, only change the five most used lights in your home.
• Go for paperless bank and credit card statements, only accessing your statements online
• Ditch the paper towels and use micro-fiber cloths for your cleaning purposes (don't worry, they're machine washable and just as effective)

If you still want more or are just interested, here are some "green myths" that were featured on GMA this morning. Although we often have good intentions for helping the planet and ourselves by buying natural and organic products, it is better to simply read the ingredients. The FDA regulates standards for organic food of course, but as far as beauty products go, any manufacturer can claim that their product is "all natural". Also, look for trade names that you trust. For me, one of those names is Dove. I still read the ingredients labels but have never seen anything that has turned me away. Food labels are important, too, especially on packaged items such as rice or noodle bowls. So, just a heads up for those of you who have some hippie in you (it's okay, I'm there too) and are big on being green, make sure you read your labels, and if it seems too good to be true, then it probably is.

home sweet home

As promised, here are some pictures from my "studio" apartment.

vintage couch with Anthropologie quilt as a make-shift cover

reading nook with vintage chair from a local antique store

bedside tables displaying my creative efforts with vases

my favorite place of all

the sweetest winds, they blow across the south

As a tribute to spring, I wanted to share some photos from mine and K's road trip last year that took us through a small town in Virginia. Although I have quite a few city girl tendencies, I will always be a southern girl at heart, and I think that these images highlight some of the most beautiful parts of the Virginia countryside.

While doing research for our trip, we stumbled upon a river-front bed and breakfast in smalltown, Virginia and happily signed up. Little did we know that it would turn out to be such an adventure. The town had a bike trail that went from the top of the mountain all the way into the city. The scenery around the trail was absolutely beautiful. It went right through the country (at one point it even when through someone's field!) and followed the river most of the way. And yes, the second to last image is from a Christmas tree patch! Aside from the bike trails, the local pizzeria had amazing slices and an extensive beer selection, and the small coffeehouse/bookstore was quite a treat. Above all however, the solitude of the country is always the best part. The sweetest winds, they blow across the south...

bienvenue!

I created this blog in a effort to pull together many of my favorite things that often seem to contradict each other. These include fashion, antiques and decorating, hiking, running, biking,  books and music, and good food. So, for my first post, I have decided to put together my current Anthropologie wish list. It only includes kitchen-y items as I will soon be moving out of my make-shift studio in my parents' basement (photos of my "studio" to come).