Phrase.

I don't know about you, but I often find myself caught in a game of cat and mouse. I actually have no idea what that phrase means, I just needed a well known phrase for my intro to transition me... mission accomplished?

Every time I'm at school in Auburn, I think of a million and one things that I would do if I were in Dallas. I think of the things I miss, like seeing the beautiful a skyline, the food I would be eating, the stores I would be spending my money in (cue my bank account saying "what money?") and the people I would be with, gawking at homes I'll never one day be able to afford (divas dream big, remember that.) But then I get here and I find myself saying "what now?" Thinking, "If I were in Auburn I would be (insert activity (most likely raging in one way or another) here)"

Is this what that phrase "the grass is always greener on the other side" means? If so, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? Does this mean I'm not happy here nor there? Does this mean I'm not happy anywhere? (Dr. Suess anyone?) Or would the phrase and popular Counting Crow lyric "you don't know what you have until it's gone" be more appropriate?

Do I, like Hannah Montana, get the best of both worlds?

I choose to answer yes. I would like to think that it means I lead two different, but very wonderful lives that I love equally, and miss desperately while I'm away. I'm not saying I'm a different person in Dallas or Auburn, I just have my separate friends, living situation etc., etc.

I would imagine if one could live inside of a vacation, this is what it might feel like. Nice for awhile, but eventually, it's time to get back... And I guess as I get older, that "time" starts to creep up. Soon it will be time to decide which aspect is the vacation...

But luckily I have two years ahead of me before I have to come to terms with the ending of that vacation. I plan to make those two years very L O N G.

So cat and mouse game...bring it on ;) 

-Lo. 

Listen

Foster The People have been my summer soundtrack. Perfect driving music. Plus it makes me feel like I'm shopping at Urban Outfitters/ Anthropologie...

I just can't get enough. Take a listen and check out their album "Torches" on iTunes.


Enjoy.

-Lo

Episode.

 My day on Friday should be submitted as material for an episode of Modern Family. It was just "one of those days." I woke up was woken up grumpy and just couldn't shake it off. You know it's bad when you admit yourself that you're being quite the pain...

The day had had it's ups and downs but things were getting better when Lisa and I surprised my dad with cake at his office for a pre-birthday celebration. (this is typical, birthdays make me so happy.) We left Beau in the house, closing all the doors to rooms that we didn't want him in...or so I thought...

We pulled up in the driveway, walked up the steps and as I waited for Lisa to unlock the door, I peered in through the glass. And there it was. The first sign of disaster. A little teddy bear gently sitting beside a chair in our living room. We walked in and another teddy bear was placed by another chair in our living room...both covered in slobber.

As we rounded the corner into the dining room, beans from a used-to-be snowman (3rd grade project) were all. over. the floor. With every room we entered our house was becoming a movie scene...

I paced to my bedroom to find trash, blankets, pillows, feathers (still swirling the air no exaggeration) and the remnants of a loofa strewn about my room. Beau had clearly decided to re-decorate and I was not happy...

After much scolding and a few hours later, Lisa and I suddenly found the situation hilarious. We re-told the story to my dad and were almost crying we were laughing so hard. Something I never thought I would do considering I was almost in tears over the situation at the time.

Much like Modern Family where at the end of each episode is a little lesson, at the end of the day as I sat with my parents and Beau watching a movie, I realized that as much as some of the bodies in this room drove me nuts that day, there was no place I'd rather be on a Friday night than with them. Even Beau.

Beau

Beau: noun /bō/
     1. A boyfriend or male admirer 
     2. A rich, fashionable young man; a dandy
     3. French for 'beautiful'

but most importantly, the name of my new obsession: 

Blog world, meet Beau: 

Beau loves photo shoots and mashed potatoes... 

His red bandana from the 4th of July...

 belly scratches, running in the sprinklers and rolling around in the backyard. 

Quick Story: we put the bandana on him for the 4th to make him look "festive". A couple of days ago we went to take it off of him and he had an absolute fit, biting at it and trying to put it back on himself.  I guess the bandana stays...(we think it makes him feel more permanent.) He is obviously living up to the "fashionable young man" aspect of his name... 

Moral of the story: I can't wait to put antlers on him at Christmas time!!!!

He is adorable and the calmest 17 month-old rescue dog I've ever seen. His biggest fault so far? He loves to snuggle in everyone's bed but his own...what a nightmare DREAM!

Projects

Whenever I come home to Dallas, I always get two things:

1. Spending Happy

2. Crafty

Sometimes, well let's be honest, most of the time, these come hand in hand. I view this as pure coincidence while my bank account considers it pure evil. 

For my birthday last year I got these great, white frames to hang on my walls at school. My original thought was to put photos of family and friends in them and make a frame collage like my sister did. But I have always loved fashion editorials, so what I decided to do was go in search of old magazines to see what I could put together....and VOILA! 

I found some old Harper's Bazaar magazines...

Tore off the covers

And fit them to my frames.

This one might be my favorite!
You can click on each of the photos to enlarge if you're having a hard time seeing them. 

I wanted to find vintage Vogue and frame those, but "vintage" started in about the 90s and let's be real, there aren't many high-fashion, frame-worthy looks from '91...

Another perk of using the Bazaar covers is that the older ones don't have all the junk on them... The "500 summer shoes for less!" or "Lose 10lbs in 7 days!"...no one needs that on their walls. Plus, it gives a much cleaner, more modern look while bringing out the beauty of the photos. 

A tip: go to your nearest Half Price Books or discount book store. 

You'll uncover some great finds for even better prices. Each of these magazines were under $2! (I may be a spender but I sure can save! It's a gift, I know) 

It's been one of my favorite projects so I thought I would share it with you :) My next project is putting a dried flower arrangement in an old Mint Julep cup! 

Things to look forward to...

Xx,

Lo.