False Knight On the Road

How am I supposed to sleep with pinterest being in existence? I just pinned a bunch of stuff to my Dream Wedding board... I am not even getting married! It's like crack.

Yesterday I made a silly purchase that I love. I had 2 pairs of these in college which my cat ate both of, so when I was on TTU's campus yesterday I decided to buy a new pair at the SBS. No particular reason other than I was feeling nostalgic.

Sometimes I love to buy things for myself with no rhyme or reason, and these are probably the most comfortable flip flops I have ever owned. The coozie is just to keep my drinks cold ;) and show off my Kappa Delta love.

Do you ever buy silly things for yourself or waste time day dreaming in pictures?

Much Love,
  Emma

Night and Day

Erick Baker is one of the most amazing musicians I have ever seen live. Friday night Jessica, Rusty and myself headed to the Bijou Theatre in Knoxville to see him again for the 5th time (for me, 6th for Jess, 1st for rusty). It was his new cd release party, and boy was it amazing! The opener was Brent Thompson. This show was great. Brent (I like to talk like we are on a first name basis, but I don't know him) was energetic, and involved with the crowd. He told stories and his music was original and soulful. His lyrics surprised me, and I will definitely be following him in the future.

Erick and Erin Archer (viola player) came out to sing backup for Brent's last song, and then the intermission came. Jessica and I used this as a perfect opportunity to take some pictures.

Rusty (totally sober- not, and Jessica)

Me and Jess! This was the only picture where one of us didn't have weird sideways neck rolls

Just me, and the weird guy behind me who was on this phone ALL NIGHT

The kid in the background of the picture of me and Jess was very noisy during brent's show and kept asking his mom "is Erick coming out now?" If he had't been so cute, I would have been extremely annoyed.

Once the photo session ended and the lights dimmed, out came Erick and Erin again to begin the show. The show started at 9 pm and we walked out at 11:45 pm. He started off classic Erick Baker, stuff from his 2 previous albums, It's Getting to Late to Say it's Early, and Holding the Pieces in Place. He then led right into the new stuff, the first song being Night and Day. This song brings me to tears every time I hear it. My favorite line goes something like this:

So baby let's go run and hide
When the door closes we can lock the world outside
You can take your lipstick off
Your kiss will still be just as soft
It's not your makeup that makes you beautiful to me

He then goes into this:

So take this ring
And my foolishness
Take my last name and wear it like your favorite dress

Seriously?? waterworks, every time. This will be the song I dance to when I get married. And maybe if Erick and I are on a first name basis by then, he can come sing it for me ;)

Do yourself and your daydreaming a favor and listen to this song.
Night and Day

On a sad note of the evening, even though this was the CD release party, the cd wasn't available! I was so bummed. All the way there I had been anxiously awaiting listening to it on repeat for the remainder of the weekend and well into my work week. But sadly it won't be available till the beginning of the year.

After the show, Rusty and Jess and I went to get food in Rusty's van and then go watch movies at his house. This was interesting in and of itself because it's a very old van that he borrowed from our friend Adam until he gets his car fixed. Very sweet of Adam, but we looked no less creepy driving around East Knox at midnight in a dark van. And it didn't do so well racing other van's.

Much Love,
  Emma

Moves Like Jagger

Just dance this Tuesday morning. :)

Danceable

Rooms

School starts today!!

You may not know this about me, but I love school. If I won the lottery I would travel for a while, and then become a full time student. I am one of those people.

Fall semester has its own special attraction as well. In undergrad, fall semester was more anticipated than Christmas. We lived those summer days with joy and eagerness for fall to bring us all back together. Thursday nights I was either found at a sorority sisters house cooking food and watching Grey's Anatomy, or heading to the Sigma Chi house sport coat ready for Sport Coat Thursday... or both. Weekends were spent playing volleyball, drinking woodchuck, watching football, hiking, and spending time at my loom or print table in the studio. Any night of the week a group of us would meet for drinks at JDs Sandwich Shop,  and any night I wasn't there I could almost guarantee a random visitor would show up on my doorstep late into the evening. I miss those fall semesters.

Fall semester looks a bit different now, but in all actuality we haven't removed ourselves so far from this carefree lifestyle. Instead now we may live a bit further apart, but for the most part, my entire group of friends has relocated to Nashville. We all have big kid jobs now, but still spend the weekends hanging out. We work longer hours than school took up, and have a harder time staying up as late (maybe this one is just me, I don't know), but we give it a valiant effort as often as possible. Our social circles have grown and shrunk at the same time. We know more people, but I think everyone finds out who their closest friends are in the stage of life. Those friendships have really grown and I am thankful for this. We still act ignorant and young, spend more money than we should, and are always seeking fun first. I have a lot of friends who have taken on the responsibilities of family, marriage, and home ownership, but within my close group, we tend to shy away from any committal responsibility.

Even though things have changed, once summer recedes to fall you can still tell. That same pep and excitement is there, and I am just lucky enough to still be starting classes, pursuing a career I love. I can't wait till the kick off UT football game, pumpkin spiced everything, sweaters (and sweatshirts I am slowly learning the difference), slouchy boots, bon fires, and re-uniting those undergrad days once Homecoming rolls around. But till then I will start another semester of classes, and continue to remain thankful for a life so blessed.

This picture was taken the very first day of my undergraduate career. This is my old roomie Caroline (LOVE her) and I in our freshman dorm (Cooper Dunn). This was the day we moved in, and I remember taking this picture right before we headed out to FIJI patio party on South Patio.

Much Love,
  Emma

Grown Ocean

I am lately having this overwhelming desire to move West. I have no idea why, but I feel like the Rocky Mountains are calling my name.

I just finished my first 12 hours of graduate school, and am about to start the next 6. This is very exciting for many reasons, but mostly because I am just that much closer to becoming a counselor. Sometimes I feel like I already am though which is nice, and I love it when my friends come to me.

The next step then combining these two statements is clearly to move West and start my second Masters. :) Isn't this what I am telling myself? I do think so.

I have started looking at second masters programs for nutrition across the country. I have no idea why for this one I want to leave Tennessee as opposed to stay because the option to stay is there as well. I just feel like this life is bigger than me and I need to get out there and figure it all out. So here I am again. Looking and dreaming for the future, trying to make a plan and trying to figure out what God's plan is for me as well.

What's your dream?

Much Love,
  Emma

Quiet Houses

I just love a good at home arts and crafts project so here ya go... continuation of Ragged Wood :)

First I decided to take a trip to Goodwill and luckily for me there is a Goodwill SUPERSTORE right by my house. When I got there look at what I found.

Jackpot! So I rushed to the back where the housewares are looking for something very specific. For this project I needed a large picture frame preferably with a picture intact. This is so I can not only re-paint the frame but I will already have a picture base to use for my above-the-bed artwork. Look at the jewel i found... for $10.00

It is so beautiful! haha no but in all seriousness, since it was a 50% off day and tax free weekend, I had to wait in line for almost 45 minutes to purchase this lovely masterpiece. People always buy the strangest things in Goodwill, but you have no idea the kind of looks I got while waiting in line with this thing and a green J. Crew cardigan ($2.50). 

So I get to the counter to pay, where the checkout lady gets very upset with me when she finds out I am going to paint over this "absolutely gorgeous painting". I know goodwill check out lady, it is a complete travesty. But alas, I must. Finders keepers and all. 

So I get home, throw my new cardigan in the washing machine and get to work!

The tools needed for this particular project were spray paint (I went with 2 gold tones), sand paper (I actually ended up not using this, but you could), chalkboard paint, paint brush, flathead screw driver, paper doilies. 

First you will need to carefully separate the frame from the picture inside. This is where the flathead screwdriver will come in handy if you have those pesky metal folding hooks. Once you have the two separated, you can sandpaper down the photograph to get a smooth surface if needed. Next, get ready to paint! I painted the chalkboard first and saved the frame for last since spray paint dries faster than chalkboard paint. 

Make sure to apply the chalkboard paint evenly, so that once it dries it leaves a smooth surface for writing on!

Once you have finished painting the chalkboard paint over the painting surface, you are ready to leave it to dry and move on to the frame. I didn't have a drop cloth to put under the frame so I just used approximately 10 Wal-Mart bags. 

Spray paint till your hearts content at this point. I put down the lightest gold color I had first, in order to build up from there. I found another copper color in my art supplies and added it to the pile, and actually ended up with 3 different gold tones to use. I put down my first color and let it dry, then used the paper doilies in order to give it some texture/ design. I placed the doilies on the frame and spray painted over them leaving a subtle lace pattern on the wood. I did this in 2 layers using the remaining 2 darker gold colors. 

After the paint has dried on both the chalkboard picture and the frame, you are ready to reassemble. Be very careful putting the chalkboard picture back in the frame! you want to avoid cracking it or putting smudges on it (I did this). If you smudge it then you will need to paint over that area. Once you have put the picture back in the frame you are done!

And now your new chalkboard is ready to hang wherever you would like! I put mine above my bed :)

After 24 hours, run down to the local dollar store (Dollar General for me) and grab some chalk and get creative. Here is my first message:

Much Love,

  Emma

Ragged Wood

Saturday morning in Nashville, listening to some Fleet Foxes, and about to start my day of craftiness. Today I am making something to go above my bed, and I have been wanting to start this project all week. It will also require some junk hunting on my part, which sounds like the perfect thing to do on a rainy Saturday morning. So off to the Goodwill and Home Depot I go!

I am also going to make something for my friend Amber Stamps (I Am His blog on website and other blogs page) I told her I was going to make this for her like 3 months ago and today just seems like the perfect day to get it done! Especially since she just moved into her new place, and really needs some cool wall art!

Pictures and a DIY tutorials to follow today as the projects progress. Get out and do something for yourself today!

Love and Peace,
Emma

Wake Up

Yes, it has been almost a year... I know I majorly suck. I will try and make it up, promise!!

2011 Updates:

• I moved! Ok I am still in Nashville, but I found out in March that the house I was living in was being torn down and I had to go, so I found the most adorable place in the 12 south district of Nashvegas and I love it!!
• I am still at Vanderbilt working and most recently received a promotion making me a program assistant... we will see what comes of this!
• I not only was accepted into Graduate School- GO ME!- But I am now starting my 3rd semester this Fall! I am at Lipscomb University working towards my Masters of Science in professional counseling!
• I am also working as a Independent Team Beachbody Coach, so I help people reach their fitness and nutrition goals! I LOVE it, it really is a blast! 
• Related to the above, I have also lost a significant amount of weight... how much? I have no idea cause I am terrified of the scale! But I am down a few clothes sizes and last time I check (June 24) I was down 16 lbs. Running, Shakeology, and Insanity... not to mention I have successfully cut out wheat products
• David and I are hitting 4.5 years on September 4th! I can't believe it!
• David turned 30, and he handled it like a champ :)
• I'll be 25 this year... crazy
• I have made lots of new friends at work, and am feeling more secure in my place here in this town
• I am going to be better about blogging... promise
• I am now addicted to Pinterest.com if your not on it, then go now. Stop reading this and GO!

I will be re-designing this blog over this weekend, and even got a brand new fancy phone so below you will find some pictures of my new place! :)

I have a couch in my room! love it!

New bed :) 

I love my double closet and glass panel door to my room

I found this dresser and fixed it up, and put the new knobs on myself! Much Better

Love and Peace,

  Emma