Paris vs New York

Since I've been all graduated since December and homework isn't consuming all my free time... I don't know what to do with myself when JP has to write papers all night or read massive case studies. 
So I've been decorating and re-decorating our apartment haha 

It seems a little silly I know, considering we're moving in a few months, but I figured I could try out some new ideas here, and if I like them then carry them over into our new space! 

(Wherever that ends up being... Keep your fingers crossed for us please! Apartment/duplex/basement shopping is hard.)

My newest project consisted of a total re-vamp of our picture wall, and I am quite a fan of how it turned out, mostly because it revolves around two of my favorite places:

Paris vs New York

Designed by a french-based graphic designer, these prints depict juxtapositional images side-by-side that capture the similar yet varied cultural phenomenons of the two cities.  

I am absolutely in love with them!

Total disclaimer -- the lighting in my apartment is terrible, so these pictures definitely don't do the project justice, please bear with me.

Old picture wall:

 New picture wall!

some of my favorite prints:

(although if we're being honest they're all my favorite so... It was really hard to pick just a few to photograph)

Working Woman

Well I should probably clarify, I've worked through all of college but it's only been part time, so now that I'm working full time, WHOA. 

I got to Friday and was exhausted! I fell asleep at 11 PM and didn't wake up until 11 the next morning! 

But I love having this little break from homework. I get off work at 5 and head right to the gym (I'm terrible at maintaining a good workout schedule when I am in school! I'll be good for a week, and then I'll have a couple tests to study for, and then somehow it's been 3 months and I haven't been back to the gym haha), then I come home and actually make dinner! 

I love it. Having time for all this homemaking stuff is awesome.

A few of my new year's resolutions include some big apartment projects that I'm excited to have time to do, and I'll most definitely share on here as I complete them, like:

- reorganizing and cleaning out all my kitchen cupboards (I probably won't share pics of this one haha boring!)

- redesigning my bookshelves (still toying with a few ideas on how I want to do this one!)

- replacing and rearranging my picture wall! I am so excited about this one.

To name a few. 

Ooh I've also started back into my shopping fast! 

Starting Jan 1  and ending May 1. 

Remember it from last year? 

Feel free to join me! It's so refreshing to exercise that self control and really makes you realize wants vs needs in a way I was never able to before. 

Plus come May 1 shopping is suddenly so much more fun. 

via

Feelin' Crafty

Yesterday was a great day. 

I decided to abstain from doing anything school related and instead filled my time with french toast from kneaders, some much-needed time at the gym (its been months... literally), and a little crafting! I am determined to get better at this sort of thing, and I do think it is happening... slowly. Baby steps over here. 

My cousin always wears the cutest hair bows in her gorgeous long hair and come to find out, she makes them herself! So we decided to monopolize her saturday afternoon and have her teach us how to make some hair bows. It was hilarious, and so much fun. And fairly successful! I now know how to make my own hair bows, so I have something in the homemaking department to pass on to my future daughters haha. 

Weekend Recap:

This weekend was full of everything I wanted to do and nothing I needed to do haha. 

I had the privilege of attending my good friend's wedding dinner, sealing, and reception.

(the one I helped throw a bachelorette party for in this last post)

She met her now-husband at my wedding last year! Woohoo! Call me the matchmaker. I take far more credit for their marriage than I probably should :) I am so thrilled for them.

Her reception was in the neatest building in SLC, I attended a party there a couple years ago and it's still one of my favorite event spots.

After the wedding a group of us went and saw the movie Argo. Easily the best one I have seen in a while. Absolutely phenomenal.

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Saturday morning I attended a cooking class with my sister and mother in law at the cutest little sewing/craft/antique boutique shop on Center Street in Provo called "Harmony" I was dying. I wanted to buy everything in there. 

Photo Cred: Shayla

And then spent Saturday night making Halloween crafts with my sister (imagine hundreds of pom-pom balls and pipe cleaners... obviously we were making spiders...) and getting hooked to the shows "Nashville" and "Last Resort". 

They were both soo good. My motivation to continue doing my schoolwork has taken a serious dive in light of these new shows... haha.

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Happy Monday!

The Best DIY Project Ever

When we got married Mr JP brought quite a bit to the marriage. 

You know, things like love, support, his mattress, and a floor lamp. 

That I hated. 

It was ugly and didn't match anything in our apartment. 

Soooo I finally got around to making it cute and matchy to the rest of our apartment decor, and let me tell you, I really had to pull out my DIY skills for this one. 

I had to:

1) go to Lowe's

2) pick out the precise color of paint

3) have a worker mix it up for me

4) have a worker help me get all the other painting supplies I need

And then voila!

Before & After

This project is almost pinterest worthy don't you think? :)