*lulus dress*

i love this adorable dress! what a great waist, too. {i may or may not have already ordered.} check out lulus for really cute vintage clothes + accessories for a very reasonable + ideal price.

what i've done with the place...

this is my one bedroom loft apartment that i co-inhabit with my 54 pound labradoodle.

one of my favorite re-created posters.

my { very girlie } bathroom.

i love this picture above my bed. 

it's so romantic + induces sweet dreams.

my "office" area {well... it's on its way, at least.}

my brand new favorite purchase! i am currently obsessed with mirrored furniture. finally broke down + bought this nightstand from pier1. and i love love love it! now i need to save up to buy the second one + {maybe} even the dresser.

::half marathon training update::

ran five miles straight today. { my longest distance yet } 

i feel like this.

via ffffound + http://newresolution.tumblr.com/

the ultimate outdoor room...

right? i can almost feel the breeze just by staring at this image. someday i will have such an outdoor room. { someday } as for this day... i'm turning in. long day of work and freelance + new hairdo = exhaustion. { only i hate to sleep on the newly manicured hairs! sigh. o well. }

image via pink wallpaper (laura moss photography, domino archives - *sniff sniff*)

*blogger profile*

joanna goddard: cup of jo, smitten


author of one of my favorite blogs + contributor for glamour magazine, joanna was kind enough to share some of her early writer/journalist career tips + advice with me yesterday.

in a featured interview with imprint magazine, she answers questions about her career as a magazine writer and blogger, provides helpful networking tips, advice on story leads + pitching. i love her positive attitude and genuine outlook on life, relationships + her career. 

just for the record, i completely agree with her on the potential downfall of the magazine industry. i think the web will end up taking the cake, but i hope magazines survive! there is just something about flipping actual pages and holding the beautiful pictures + layouts that makes me happy! {plus, it's literally the only reason i get excited to open the mailbox.}

thanks, joanna + keep up the amazing work. if you haven't visited cup of jo + smitten you're missing out! *have a lovely day*

if you're not setting goals... are you setting traps?

*climbing onto soap box*

ahem ahem...

sometimes, i forget how important it is to be working towards something. when we aren't moving forward, we tend to do the opposite or simply hold still. both, of which produce less than ideal outcomes. whether it's a career goal - like a promotion or job change, or just something fun on the side — it's healthy to have something you're excited about reaching. 

if you aren't avidly working towards a finish line of sorts...  the pent up frustration over your motivational standstill only snowballs, making you unsatisfied and creating an unproductive void. 

want to redo your living room diy style?  make a list + start right now.
thinking about polishing your photography skills? start a photo blog.
considering a venture into a new career? polish that resume tonight.

what are you waiting for? the sooner you have a goal, the more you can apply yourself to get there.

 all of this self-advice came flooding back when i set my new goal: completing the half marathon { in october.} every time i train and go for runs, i truly feel better!
ok i'll stop now. just sayin'. you'll feel better.

have a great monday!

{ don't freak out, people... it's just a cold }

"while some health problems are large, complicated and frightening, most problems are not the end of the world. a kind word and a little help can get you on your way."

this site is designed to do just that, remind you that not every pain, bump and scratch needs extreme medical attention. this site recommends the basics + provides some much needed medical humor. it promotes the bare minimum with no gadgets or pretty colored pills, simply what is recommended for everyday people to get over everyday pains and minor illnesses. don't freak out people, it's just a cold.

i love the tonality of this site. you must check out the help, i'm bored section.

{ approach monday in a whole new way }

via ffffound.

{ file cabinet planter }

before + after from design*sponge. a really great summer project idea. it would look great with some decorative stencil pattern on the front or a cute painted border. { i think it may need bigger plants + bright colorful flowers to balance out the intensity of all that painted metal. }

what have i gotten myself into...

here we go... a friend motivated me to run the columbus nationwide better health + fitness 1/2 marathon — sunday, october 18th. aahh. we started what we're calling "preliminary" training today. which basically consisted of a 3.4 mile run during lunch { with maaaaybe two teeny weeny walk portions } a real-life-following-a-chart-training begins in about a week. as i'm sitting here, i just noticed my leg muscles tighten and my feet start to ache. oh joy. *pulls out foot massager* 

but this means i will obviously need shiny new running shoes that fit like a glove { er... sock? } and probably additional dry fit running attire { i said probably.  }

however — i am excited to have a challenging goal to work towards. i just wanna be able to say "i did it!" ** stay tuned **

next project...

an upstairs office!

 i started gathering ideas this weekend for how to approach and attack the tiny space that will be my office. i will upload a pic of what space {or lack thereof } i'm going to be working with. ideas + suggestions welcome! i have a lot of very high wall space, so i'm thinking perhaps something that elongates and is pleasing to the eye? similar to this photo {from design*sponge}. wouldn't a bright, little diy chair be perfect?

*happy weekend*

{ how to get the sartorialist to shoot you }

hopefully you're familiar with the sartorialist... a real-people, street-hunting fashion blog. if you're not, check it out. it features some amazing photography, urban locations and always great fashion. { reading it usually  makes me: #1 want to travel somewhere glamorous, #2 wear ridiculous amounts of layers, #3 put on a ton of jewelry, even though you'll never see, it under a scarf. }

today i ran across this guide: a step-by-step guide to getting shot by the sartorialist. definitely made me lol. check it out. then reach for a scarf. he's coming for you.

*coke site takes a vacation*

the belgium coke website has gone on summer vacation. literally. check out the site and short flash intro, depicting the site heading off to the beach.

while the site is on vacay - they're driving all traffic to their social networks. a smart way to get users to interact with fb, etc. i'd be interested to see the numbers during this little stunt.

happy friday...

** creative interior design **

how great is this idea? a dreary wood pallet has been turned into a lovely daybed! and yes. that is a door as the headboard. note the surrounding decor. love love love! read more about this project and it's creator here, from design*sponge.

{ eternal moonwalk }

i'm sure you've probably seen this by now. but it's a fabulous "tribute" idea and { like the death of MJ } has spread like wildfire in social media land. submit your own moonwalk video or just get sucked in by the . so far... i'm liking #1398 + #1286.

{ weekend in review }

my weekend...[gallery link="file" order="DESC" columns="2"]

consisted of dogs, cookouts, the suburbs, the boyfriend, friends, good food and good drinks! it was fabulous. we did all the random things you always say you'll do... but either find something better or run out of time. on our friday day off, we went to the columbus zoo (and kind of aquarium.) i will have to give my official review on cbus v. san diego in an upcoming post. we developed a scoring system with no functional basis or rational reasoning. stay tuned. 

... followed by a friday night cookout and drinks on the patio. saturday was the day of the mini golf tee off and championship title. (taken by myself - pictures can be found here.) then dinner at haiku with our friends. 

today... sigh... was bittersweet. not only did the end to another weekend arrive... but andy roddick fell short in the wimbledon championships. watch this clip of andy at the last place he wants to be after such a close match with rodger — a press conference. bittersweet. 

and so another monday is here. hope you all had a lovely 4th of july weekend! xoxo

wash your hands please...

you eat what you touch.

*don't forget to wash your hands today*

from lowe indonesia for lifebuoy hand wash.