new things...for a new place.

after moving back home a few years ago I am happy to say that I am finally ready, willing and able to get my own place again. in the past I really struggled with living on my own. while I love my alone time and actually seek solitude I am a mother hen by nature so it's hard not having anyone around to "take care of". I am considering adopting a furry friend this time around to accompany me during this new very exciting chapter.

I am planning on moving after the winter months and am using this time to gather all of the things that will fill my new space. I gave myself a few shopping guidelines...I'm only allowed to buy things that I absolutely love and feel like I can't live without, and the majority of what I purchase needs to be thrifted. so far I bought a new couch, a coffee table, an end table, an ottoman, a ton of dishes, a few great rugs, picture frames and mirrors...I love them all and they're all thrifted! so far so good. I am really enjoying this time. it is so fun to actually be able to plan for a move. I'm so excited that I even sewed myself a new throw pillow...by hand!

we don't always know what the future holds or what it looks like, but it sure is fun to think about! I will miss this room, but am looking forward to putting together a new one.

mason jars.

the uses for mason jars are endless. literally endless. today I thrifted a bunch, six medium sized and two large. I had a long hard day today. usually I'm pretty good about putting a positive spin on things...but today was long and it was hard...tomorrow will be better. I needed a pick me up this evening when I got home so I made myself a green smoothie. I can't control everything and things won't always go as planned, but I can control what I feed my body and that makes me feel good. oh and just so you know...smoothies taste better when you drink them out of a jar (use #1). were you aware?

a thrifted throw and signs of fall.

last night I thrifted an amazing alpaca throw for $12! it seemed like the perfect find on a chilly fall evening and I smiled about it all night long. so much is changing right now and I am so excited for whats to come in these next few months. while I wait in anticipation for my future plans I'm noticing (and appreciating) daily changes all around me and I'm spotting signs of fall at every turn. cool weather shoes have rotated themselves in line, my down comforter made its way onto my bed this morning, and my green smoothies are looking extra bright these days. all very exciting...and noteworthy ;)

my happy place.

my bedroom is definitely what I would call "my happy place". when I am in it I feel a certain sense of calm. I am at peace. I am comfortable. I am OK.

I am a firm believer in the phrase ' love people, use things '. nonetheless, there are certain things in my life (room to be exact) that I do, very much love. I love my thrifted bookshelf which I purchased earlier this year for $12. I love the fabric (from an old dress) that is framed and hanging on my wall. I love the oversized painting that I created one evening when I was bored at home. I love my collection of books, little thrifted treasures, photographs of special people, my $5 tufted back accent chair, and the fact that this space is truly a reflection of myself. simple yet unique.

yes, it is true. my bedroom is one of my favorite things ;)

new wheels.

biking has been my exercise of choice lately so I was thrilled when I came across this beauty today while out shopping. literally thrilled! I had been looking for a new old bike for awhile now. usually the ones I see are either over priced or look great, but ride horrible. today, I was pleased all around. I paid $35 for it at my favorite thrift store and have been riding it all day. so far so good. :)

I am going to try to work biking into my morning routine because I really really do enjoy it. hooray for the invention of the wheel and thrifted treasures!

quote me.

earlier today I found a pretty neat frame at the thrift store ($1.61). I was happy to find it because I've been meaning to buy one for awhile and never got around to it. heres why I wanted it... I have a small chalkboard wall in my room that I use pretty frequently. I usually end up writing things on it that I don't want to forget or things I need to buy, etc. sometimes I write a few motivational words to myself to reinforce positive thinking ;) anyway, I thought it would be a fun idea to frame those wise words as a simple way of making them seem even more meaningful.

the phrase I came up with today is "SET GOALS". it is SO important for us to set goals for ourselves. it gives us something to work towards and we should always be working towards something. recently I accomplished a goal that I set for myself and it feels great! every so often I will write a few words on my board, something significant to my current life happenings and post it here on the blog. I think this will be a fun thing to do.