Arts & Crafts Project: 1

Ambience: Starry Eyed - Ellie Goulding

So when I first moved into my apartment in Birmingham, I pretty much just used anything and everything that I had from my little house in Auburn.  I didn't have much money to upgrade so it stayed for about a year and a half looking like a college dorm.

     

Finally I realized that I am a working adult and that my place of residence should reflect that.  So my first area of focus, above the couch in the livingroom.  While I still do love Klimt and think he was a genius, I just didn't feel a poster was the right look, so I went with the trusty old picture arrangement.  As travel is one of my favorite past times and interests, I decided it should be the focus of my arrangement.

I picked the best looking pictures from all of the places I have been to in Europe, my current favorite travel destination, sorted through, and picked the 5 best vertical pictures from the bunch.  I changed them to black and white through photoshop since I already have about three color palettes in that room already and didn't think it needed any more color.

For frames, I got 5 simple, black, 8.5 x 11 frames at Hobby Lobby for half off of $9.99 each.  Now because they were so cheap, they didn't come with a mounting hook so I bought a mounting kit as well for about $5.  They also had the already-cut sale section of mattes where I found this beautiful texture matte that, of course, they only had 3 of.  So I got 3 for $3 each and then had to get the other 2 custom cut for full price.

All assembled and finally on the wall, they add a subtle conversation piece that reminds me every day of all my great European memories.  Love it!

walking in memphis.august 2010

ambience: walking in memphis

for bryon and my one year anniversary, we decided to go to his homeland, memphis, tennessee, the land of elvis and good bbq!

first stop: rendezvous. "the best bbq, EVER"-bryon (i wasn't the biggest fan because it was dry rub and they used celery seeds in their seasoning)

we found out that it wasn't open on sunday, so even though it was 10 o'clock on saturday night, off we went.  turns out, we still had to wait about an hour to get in.  they have a waiting room as big as their serving area, but bryon wanted a taste from his childhood, so we had to go!

the next day, i got to have my pick, so we went to the zoo, which was awesome!  every exhibit had a theme, from the alaskan north passage to the egyptian (memphis) entry to the zoo.  

then, we ate more bbq (of course) followed by a walk down beale street, a stroll along the river, and a ride on the main street trolley.  memphis is only about the size of birmingham, but beale street is awesome!  it's like bourbon street.  it was so packed both nights we were there!

monday, we took a last look around and ate some more bbq (a bbq breakfast omelette) @ cockadoos, this super cute brunch place that has floral table cloths and serve their drinks in mason jars.

then, we headed to the infamous graceland.  we immersed ourselves in everything elvis and loved it!  i felt like i was channeling my dad; he was a huge elvis fan.

on the way back to birmingham, we took a stop in collierville, a suburb of memphis, where bryon grew up.  it had a cute little town square with shops all around.

over all, very successful anniversary/first road trip together.  we look forward to more to come!

belgium.june.2009

ambience: lily allen

when i went to rome, i knew it was a once in a lifetime experience to travel abroad and enjoy the world, that i would probably never get to do again... until i came home and lauren wanted to go to europe... so we decided to take a little trip.. to visit her bf jake in belgium..

and so we went..

we went to amsterdam..

where we took a bike tour, ate at an outdoor cafe overlooking the canals, played an oversized game of chess outside the hard rock cafe, went to the heineken brewery, and saw a legitimate dutch windmill.

also, i almost crashed my bike into a tree outside of a cheese farm, and lauren confused madam tussaud's with a brothel.

then, we went to london..

where we rode the london eye, crossed tower bridge on a double decker tour bus, ate fish and chips in notting hill, and gazed up at big ben from the banks of the thames.

we also couldn't figure out how to turn the lights on in our hotel room and had ourselves an amazing traditional english breakfast at the corner pub.

then, we looked around brussels, since we were already there..

we went to the cinquantenaire, ate at a cafe in the middle of the main, historic square, visited the mannequin pis, ate belgian waffles with ice cream and chocolate on top, and enjoyed the life of a belgian.

also, we ate at a mexican restaurant, twice; and lauren realized that yes, europeans use the same numbers we do.

we also took brief stops in le mont st. michele to see the beautiful island cathedral and medieval town, and luxembourg to see lily allen perform.