Wild & Free

You only have one life

&

every new day is a gift.

most days I have this strong urge to be more or do more.

wanting to grow old and have regrets is not on my to do list.

by all means I am a dreamer.

the last thing I want to be is a dreamer that never did anything about those dreams.

New goals for the year: 

embrace life

embrace who I am

Inspiration:

Joy Prouty and her family.

What they are doing:

living life on the road out of their renovated 1950 Spartanette Trailer

----with four little ones  ;)

To watch a documentary Yahoo! did on the Prouty family click >>>here!

and check out Joy's blog >>> here!

Hope they inspire you too!

Strike!

hello lovely people...this is my bowling ball bag ;)

during my Monday adventure I came across this vintage bowling ball carrier and it was love at first sight. In fact, falling in love with it happened so quickly that our love story is kind of blurry. ;) hehe

leaving without this bag was not an option due to the following:

                                                                                                        a. it is beautiful.

                                                                                                        b. that pattern is amazing.

                                                                                                        c. it was $10 dollars. (seriously)

This pattern inspires me to make something beautiful.

I hope your Monday was beautiful! 

Here in my world facing Monday with a smile is key ;)

Century Plant

There are many things I love.

...like things that make me crazy giddy like a two year old and things that cause me to stare in wonder.

I find it necessary to capture beautiful wonderful magical things......especially things that are one part Dr. Seuss, one part wonderland. 

A few weeks ago my mom asked me to bring my camera home because my grandparents wanted me to take pictures of a neighbor's plant.

I have never been one to photograph lots of flowers and such but this was a little more than your average flower...

 It was a Century Plant. 

I am beyond thankful for my family.

Reasons:

1. Supporting me in all my crazy endeavors.

2. Always keeping their eyes peeled for cool things for me to get in to.

3. This list could go on for days....but these are the important things that relate to this post ;)

My Papaw.

Just so you know he is a pretty tall guy.

So this is a Century Plant.

Supposedly this is it in full bloom and after this it will die. 

The owners have two on their property and build little sheds around them every winter. 

When they took the shed down that was protecting this one at the beginning of Spring....that thing (not even sure what to call it) shot straight up in a matter of days.

Crazy, I know.

Just another one of God's miracles.

I mean after all...He is the world's best inventor, artist, designer, etc.. ;)

 This is my favorite. :)

Want to know more??

Check out this YouTube video >>> Century Plant in Bloom

Happy Tuesday everyone!

Found...

One of the cool things about life: the way your true passions always find random ways to combine and make you remember exactly why they are your passions.

I like:

old things and antiques

history and books

design and decor

When I was younger my parents caused me to develop an obsession with antique and junk stores.

hunting for cool things and trying to find missing pieces to collections....one of the best adventures you can have. 

I have always loved history.

knowing how other people lived and seeing the ideas they came up with is truly intriguing.

I am a bookworm.

especially books with amazing images and cool information.

Design....ah yes design.

I am all things design.

lover of color.

obsessed with pattern.

constantly searching for the perfect arrangement of a few amazing pieces.

An old book filled to the brim with color and design ideas from the past found in a cool vintage store.....

everything I love combined!

I stumbled across a Saturday afternoon adventure :)

It wasn't a long adventure or a planned one...

just a "hey I think I'll check that place out before I head home".

Sometimes those are the best!

If you are ever in Memphis and in need of a quick vintage adventure...I would for sure recommend that you check out this one of a kind shop! The owners are super nice and truly committed to what they do!

Better Homes & Garden Decorating Book Found at Flashback in Memphis, TN

Check out their website here!

Memphis...

I really like Memphis...

It's growing on me very quickly.

Why do I like it?

Well there is that incredible view of the river... 

random jungles...  

that seem like another world...

  

gorgeous old buildings that I could stare at for days...

there are tons more reasons.

I can't wait for a whole day of adventuring....

Being here makes the 11 months until graduation seem like a very short amount of time.

In some ways I am completely okay with that and then in other ways it's a little frightening.

I have no idea where I will be this time next year. 

Absolutely no idea.

That doesn't bother me in the least bit.

When people ask me...

about plans...

I tell them...

"I'm just riding it out, seeing where life takes me"

Yesterday, a lady I met ended the conversation we had by telling me to always listen for that small voice...

I said yes mam.

small voice, maybe...

powerful...nonetheless.

1. Rack em'....

so for a while now I have been dreaming of a rack for some of my extra clothing...one that can stand alone and be a cool piece to see out in the open. 

2. Hair...

before a hairdresser friend reminded me of the up-keep for something like the above...

I was seriously considering it.

Seriously.

3. Driftwood...

the beauty found in things that are so simple...amazes me everyday.

I've got something similar to this that I am planning on hanging somewhere soon.

4. For the Bathroom...

If anyone ever sees any of these please notify me.

My someday house wouldn't be complete without a set.

**Totally just realized these were on Etsy!! Click here!**

5. Rug Love...

Some day in my life I will have an amazing kilim rug!

Check out some of these >>> Amber Interiors-Kilim Rugs

6. Today...

Just tell yourself today is a good day...smile....regardless of the situation at hand...and I promise today will be a good day....

7. Random Kitchen...

This kitchen just makes me happy...

It's so random but so neatly put together.

8. This room...

(minus the cat) is amazing! I could for sure see myself enjoying some down time in that space.

9. Hanging Art...

Instead of paying too muches to have a butterfly print of mine framed, I think I might try something like this.

Find this piece of art here >>> click me!

10. Painted Wood Floors...

I would have a hard time finding it in my heart to paint hardwood floors...

but I like this...

It's pretty.

I guess if something was wrong with the wood I might could live with myself for painting it....

maybe.

 That's all Folks! Hope your Monday was fabulous!!

House Planning.

My dad says I should write about Interior Design.

This past Saturday I was relaxing on the back patio. This month's edition of House Beautiful in hand and... well I was inspired.

Inspired to create something beautiful and something for me.

House Beautiful - June 2013 

So what did I create you ask?

It's a work in progress and something that probably won't see sunlight for a good many more years. 

I started my own set of house plans. 

Liza Pulitzer Calhoun's Home 

This image fueled my fire. 

I kept flipping back to it and I wanted to show everyone. I even took a picture of it and sent it to my mom. I just kept thinking this is beautiful and colorful and ....just perfect. 

I started thinking about it...my imagination started running wild and I picked up my laptop and started putting ideas on the screen. I scrolled through my Pinterest boards and focused on the characteristics of each image. I determined what it was about each image that drew me in. Even down to the way the sunlight came in through the windows. I started building a shape I liked and forming this idea of the house I had always seen in my mind. I pulled more images and reworked corners. I made notes, drew arrows, and had myself a lovely little creative session....

Things matter to me.

I observe everything.

When it comes to my someday home expect something a little off the beaten path and somewhere out there beyond unique.

I'll be sure and have an open house. ;)

It may be a few years. :)

To see what kind of interiors inspire me just click >>>> here!

Music to my Ears....

If you know me...

you know I am a bit of an old soul when it comes to music. 

I completely blame this on my mom and dad.

I'm sure they are okay with this. ;)

So this one....ah yes I know it word for word. It's okay if you think it's corny. I am completely cool with that.

The lyrics are beautiful and they set me free.

Listen here! (if you want too) >>> Edison Lighthouse - Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)

These guys were one of those one hit wonder type deals. I'm glad they happened because this song puts a smile on my face....and I dance around....as usual.

I decided the lyrics needed to be a little fancier than me just posting them as regular text... so the above happened.  ;)

I think I might have other plans for these lyrics. I'll let you know if these plans play out! 

Smile :)

Sunday Adventuring...Memphis Brooks Museum of Art

Sunday afternoon adventuring is always the best.

I spent most of the afternoon at Memphis Brooks Museum of Art. I have to say it was really cool and just what I needed. If you are in the area anytime soon you should for sure check out some of the exhibits they have up right now. 

The Crossroads of Memory

and The American South

--this was the first exhibit that I checked out.

It normally wouldn't be my first choice when it comes to art but I have to say something about his paintings are really beautiful. I made a few rounds in the museum store trying to find a print of the painting below.

This image really doesn't do it justice. The colors in the sky are gorgeous (like I thought about calling the people who own it and asking a price and then asking them to hold it for me for a couple of years.)

Sometimes simplicity is the best. I've seen those colors in the sky so many times....seeing someone capture them that perfectly makes my head spin. I was that funky chick in the long skirt making a second round to look at this one in particular. ;)

Carroll Cloar

Orchard Moridund

Next I made my way over to Andrew Saftel's "Where Water Meets Land"

So I am probably partial to this one just because of this guys funky style and the fact that he puts his own creative spin on his photography.

Row, Walk, and Ride

This piece doesn't include any photography (I don't think....I mean he could have snuck some in there.)

It is actually sketches and a collage of things he found while he was on site photographing for some of the images below.  

Blue Streak

Father and Son

For this particular collection he layered images of buses and things over images of people working or doing other daily activities. I had to do some double takes and staring for a few seconds to separate the two images. It's amazing how well he paired the images together. I have to say this series inspired me to do some creative photography work.

Find more of his work >>> here! (if you're interested of course)

So here's some other awesomeness....so I have this thing I like to do...when I get magazines I like to check out the brands that are mentioned in the captions besides images and such. Recently, (like first of this week I was doing this) and I found this coolness....

That funky pattern intrigued me...

(Interior Design magazine helped me find this....in case you want to look for yourself....B+N Industries, INC.)

So today in the gift shop at the museum I found this greatness!

It's been a funky weekend....so I bought myself a happy :)

(Find this book here)

So now I am back at my aunt's house listening to the rain fall...

rain sounds like magic :)

Smile :)