scars and stories

The Fray is my first love.  I will always love them.  They were my first concert ever. "All At Once" is my "first-day-of-school" song for inexplicable reasons. And they met me at the beginning of my DIY career—see above picture of this appropriately 'frayed' shirt I so cleverly paired with matching pink bracelets my freshman year...cute...

Anyhoo, their new album entitled "Scars and Stories" is out now and it's as good as ever.  I'm probably (definitely) just biased because they're from Colorado.  Didn't really mean to make a plug for a band but I just thought I'd share this cute attempt at making my own concert tee my friend dug up in honor of the album release.

It's finally snowing in Chicago! Time to break out the sweaters. Starting with this one.

Also, I'd like to live here, if someone wants to setup a little garden getaway with me.

mason jar mania

Whether acting as candle holders hung suspended from a lush tree, quirky table centerpieces, flower pots, or just as a drinking glass, mason jars are perhaps the item that best encompasses all things DIY.  This multi-purpose jar instantly makes the product handmade and crafty—no matter if you just pulled them out of an attic and threw sand and sea glass in them.  They exude casual and almost beg for you to know just how unplanned and organic an event is.

I'm not making fun—I honestly love the backyard patio-party/summer lemonade feel that I associate with these containers.  I feel I need to find some stash with an abundance of the jars in order to try every craft I've seen with them...

Enjoy some of my favorite incorporations of the mason jar into everyday life and events. Some of these were taken at Beau Jo's Colorado style pizza, which serves their drinks in a mason jar.  The rest can be found on StyleMePretty—an extremely fun and organized way to get wedding inspiration.

those Christmas lights...

I just exchanged the last of my Christmas gifts the other day (I know a little late, but who doesn't love extended Christmas?!) and thought I'd officially send off the happiest time of the year by sharing these.

So here's a few collections of the macro-zoom, candlelight, firework setting, dramatic mode, etc., etc. taken on the new camera.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

so Colorado.

Being a Coloradan, you would think I am accustomed to Black Diamond level ski trails and long hiking/biking trips—not the case.  I love granola...but I also love Cheetos.  And last time I went skiing I was the girl that ran into one of those flimsy aspens and had to physically take my skis off to get both legs on the same side of the tree.

Despite my lack of outdoorsy and athletic capabilities, however, since I've moved away, I desperately miss the mountains.  I guess they somehow kept me balanced seeing them to my west even out of my peripherals everyday.

So I got a camera—not an SLR by any means—but it will be the vessel in which I deliver my life to you through this blog.  Starting with home.  And my attempt to be a Coloradan with the following photos.