kissing my summer bucket list goodbye.

When I originally posted my summer bucket list back in May, I knew that it was ambitious. There were bound to be things I didn't have time for, and some of them were expensive, so possibly not possible in conjunction with all of the other things on the list. However, I'm happy that I made this list so ambitious. It really pushed me to do all of these fun things that I may not necessarily have done had I not had this list of things in the back of my head at all times. At first it kind of stressed me out, but then I decided that I would get done what I could get done and I wouldn't be upset it there weren't things I couldn't finish.

That all being said, I have posted about everything I have complete with the exception of 'have a pen pal' and 'take more pictures'. I definitely made it a conscious effort to take way more pictures this summer, and with my summer book on my mind as well, I made sure to take a bunch of different types of pictures so that I would be able to fill my book. And as for having a pen pal, my instagram friend Carmen and I exchanged addresses back in May and we each sent each other a package during the summer and even though both of us were a little busy to keep it going extremely consistently, it was really fun putting the package together for her because I felt like I knew her so well just from instagram and commenting back and forth to each other.

Some of the things on the list are partially completed, like 'take a hot yoga class' and 'read at least 5 books'. I know, how could I have half completed taking a hot yoga class? Well, I bought a week of classes for a friend and I to take, so I have to go at some point, we're just waiting for our schedules to hit a magic alignment so we can make the most of the whole week and go as many times as possible. In terms of the books, I did read this summer but with everything else that was going on, I didn't read as much as I would have liked to. I started 'A Game of Thrones' very early in the summer and got through about 100 pages before deciding to put it down and maybe revisit it another time. It was taking me so long to read and I wasn't absolutely loving it so I decided to pick up something else. I read 'If I Stay' and most of 'Where She Went' by Gayle Forman (great, fast reads), and I read 'Blog, Inc.' by Joy Deangdeelert Cho, another awesome read for anyone who blogs or is interested in starting one. I have so many books that I want to read stored in my goodreads app, but I take them on as time allows. I've always been a reader, so I know that eventually I'll find a balance and be able to get back into reading on a more regular basis like before.

There are quite a few items on my list that I have not completed and I am admitting defeat for the summer but will definitely try to do all of these things soon. Anything in my list image that is in red are things I didn't complete, and I'm okay with that for now. I know that some of my friends and I want to get bartending licenses, we just need to find the time, and I know for sure that we want to plan a day at a vineyard, but it's hard because they're kind of far away and no one wants to have to be the DD. Along those lines, we didn't plan a bar crawl either because I think maybe a bar crawl is an experience that I will leave in my college days. The t-shirts and the pre-kegs and all of that stuff was so great and so much fun, but now a bar crawl to us is leaving one bar because it's crowded and walking to another. So I guess I can consider that one half finished, but not exactly structured. The Ikea scavenger hunt has been an idea of mine for a while, but I know that it will require a lot of time and logistics, so that will have to wait until R is here and can help me because we kind of thought of it together.

As for the doggy park, that's still a plan, but Lucas is so wild and crazy that I worry about taking him to one alone, so I need a friend who will bring their dog too or just come and spend a few hours with us sans pooch. I didn't host a BBQ for my friends and I didn't see an outdoor movie, but timing is really to blame for that one. They only play outdoor movies in my town during the summer and they were all on Tuesday nights, which is a bit hard, and I didn't have a party because it's really hard living with your parents! I can't wait to be on my own so that having a party for my friends doesn't need to be a bucket list item, it will just be a normal occurrence. And finally, I didn't have a phone-free day, but I did try to use my phone less, especially when I'm with Max because it's not fair to him that I'm on my phone.

And that's about it y'all. I'm really happy with what I did accomplish on this list this summer, and I had a lot of fun writing about them, so I think I might try and make it an every summer thing, maybe even an every season thing. But from now on I will make it a bit of a smaller operation so that everything can get completed. I highly recommend doing this though, no matter how many things are on your list because it kind of puts you in a place of yes. You may think you're too tired to do something or too busy, but if it's something that you do because of a list like this, you never regret leaving the house to do it. So make a bucket list and start doing!

on feeling overwhelmed.

I don't know where to start with this really (side effect of feeling so overwhelmed). Maybe with a list - I'm good at lists.

Things that are overwhelming me at the moment (in no particular order):
* the fall television schedule - so many shows, so little time.
* having to work a bunch of Fridays when I'm normally off with the house to myself - it's when I accomplish the most and it's hard not having that day alone.
* blogging for my cousin.
* finding inspiration to create and do after a long day at work.
* trying to keep up with posting on this blog after all of the above.
* potty training a two year old who pees every ten seconds.
* having all of these overwhelming feelings is really overwhelming.

When I'm feeling like this, I normally cry or pace by myself first. Then, I talk to R or my best friend or my mom and subtly vent about one thing that quickly turns into tears about everything. Then I write about it - I make a list like this, or I scratch out a few separate lists for each one about how to handle it, ideas I have to complete a task, or a schedule of what to do first. I figured that since I'm having trouble posting I would just spill this all out on here to try and get my gears turning and figure this all out.

In all seriousness, the fall tv schedule really does overwhelm me enough to make this list. I like keeping up with shows that I love, and back in college it was just glee and grey's anatomy and that's all I had time for. But now that I live with my parents I watch things with them as a social event, and there's a dvr in every room of the house, which makes tv so accessible. I am the type of person that can't drop a show unless it's absolutely horrible - I get way too invested (see my twitter to read nonstop observations, judgements, and confessions of love for one tree hill, the 187 episode series that I am six and a half episodes shy of completing in less than a month). Actually, invested might be an understatement. Yes I have a dvr. Yes this is such a first world issue. Yes I am slightly ashamed of this even remotely affecting my life, but on top of everything else it's just like, come on.

In terms of blogging for my cousin two times a day and blogging for myself my ideal once every week day, this is a toughie. My cousin offered this job to me because she likes my voice, and of course because she's my family and I love her I wanted to help her out. I like posting on Chelsea Dogs, but I am starting to realize that this is only going to get harder and harder because there are only so many funny dog videos, heartwarming stories of rescue dogs, and ridiculous pictures of poodles in clothes. I think what the hard part is, is that sometimes I sit down at the computer ready to post on here when all of a sudden I realize it's getting a little late and I haven't scheduled anything for her for the next day. Sometimes I find good things to post very quickly and still have time and enough inspiration to post on here. Other times I can't find anything good, it takes forever to get done, and by the time I'm finished I just want to go to bed. Or chug a bottle of wine.

Obviously in terms of my job I can't do much about working a few extra days, and in all honesty it's not a huge deal, but like the tv dilemma, on top of everything else it's just a minor annoyance. I do have a lot more free time now with Max in school every morning, but I usually spend that time running errands, food shopping, or just sitting with a cup of coffee or three and relaxing with my pooch. I know I could use all of that time to my advantage, and some days I really do and it feels good, but I don't do it every day. And Max's potty training isn't that bad either, but it is really exhausting. Asking a genius little two year old if he has to pee every twenty minutes is not only annoying to him, but I annoy myself in the process. It's hard to trust him saying he doesn't have to go because he has had a bunch of accidents (which is obviously fine because he's two, we just started, and he doesn't completely get it yet), so having to ask drives us both nuts. But man does he look adorable in those little disney tighty whiteys. And he's well on his way to leaving diapers behind for good and I'm so proud of him. Exhausted - and tired of hearing myself say, "do you have to pee? Are you sure? You're not going to go in your underpants, right? You promise? Ok so you don't have to go yet?" - but proud.

I already feel a million times better having typed all of this out, and for anyone in the same situation as me, no matter what it is that's overwhelming you, writing really helps to air it all out and to figure out what is important at the end of the day and what is kind of silly. Even if you're not a writer, just make a few lists and cross things off and rule things out. Luckily for me I have a dvr, my work schedule should soon return back to normal, and the fall is my favorite season so I am hoping for lots of inspiration and some new things to keep me busy and help me to keep posting on here consistently. This blog is something that I really have grown to love over the last year and I think that not being able to post regularly is what is most overwhelming to me right now. Ironically enough posting here is what has made me realize that, so I guess I should bear that in mind the next time I feel this way.

Rant over. Overwhelming feelings slowly lifting. Weekend approaching. Life is good and will be great again soon.

summer book // finished product.

Fall rolled on in this weekend and I spent some time filling in my last few pages of my summer book last night. I changed a bunch of things and added stuff along the way despite my update posts, so I figured I'd post the entire book. I apologize for the quality of the pictures, they're not great because I took them on the floor with an awful lightbulb hanging over my head, but I did what I could with what I had.

Most of the supplies that I used are linked in the other posts, but if you have any questions just comment below and I'll get back to you!

Update 1 / 2 / 3 / 4

clothespin tacks diy.

Ever since I did my diy tacks with cabochon flowers last summer, I've had gold tacks sitting around and I needed to get rid of them (they're that flat type of pin that you would never want to use on its own because then you break your nail trying to pry it from the cork).I bought some clothespins from Michaels and decided that I would make some more cute tacks with them so that the clothespin can hold whatever I'm pinning and I don't have to put a little hole through something.Similar to my last diy project, I broke out my Martha paint and cheap craft store brushes. I used medium sized clothespins that are a little less than 2" tall. I used the paint to coat the top of the clothespins, and a couple I painted completely but I didn't like how those came out as much. I figure I could use the colors as a design or down the line if my mood board gets big enough I can use them for color coding because I'm a loser like that.I let the paint dry and super glued tacks to the back of the pins just about in the middle. Leave them to dry completely before putting them all in one spot (speaking from experience). Super simple project - now I just really need to get my act together and put up some cork above my desk so I can get to creating my real life pinterest board for inspiration. For now this mini one will have to do.

custom cork coasters.

Before I got a new desk, I had cut cork to put on my old one to create a little mood board, but I had a ton leftover. I decided to cute them into circles and make coasters, which is a project I've been meaning to do for a while. It turns out I wish I bought circle cork coasters to do this with because the cork was kind of hard to cut and a little bit crumby on the edges. I will definitely do these again because I think they'll make good housewarming gifts when all of my friends start moving out of their parent's houses and into their own places. Add some booze and voila.If you decide to try cutting your own cork, you need something circle shaped to trace (I used a big candle) and cut the cork with scissors. I used a blade after with the three circles I cut to make them all even. If you buy circular coasters then this is where you join in.

I used washi tape to create different sized stripes, and a vinyl letter to put my initial on one. There's a lot you can do with these but I decided to start this project at nine on a Sunday night, so I kind of went with the basics. After that, paint with whatever colors you want (I used gold and white because they're the colors on my desk) and let them dry completely before pulling off the tape and/or letters. Tie them up with something pretty and give them as a gift or spread them out over every surface of your house and pour a bunch of drinks to put on them.

summer book // update 4.

My summer book is almost finished, as it's pretty much the tail end of the summer. I've had so much fun turning my summer into a mini scrapbook, and will definitely need to keep myself busy with something else of the sort before I start project life in 2014.R and I drove out to Amagansett to meet up with my best friend Meagan and her dad at a family friend's beach house, so I included a few pictures from that and cut out a piece of the cute cartoon map that was in one of the free magazines and put a freckled fawn wood chip geotag to show exactly where we stayed.Rich is so good with Max, so I had to include a picture of the two of them from the day that he came to work with me. I started documenting our trip to the Brooklyn Brewery with a cut out from the 'menu' we got at the tasting, and a paper source baby envelope filled with the rest of my pictures from the trip. I included a map we were given and cut it down to size to fit the three stops on the tour and added exactly where we walked to get to each place. I tied some ribbon around a paper clip to make a little tab to hold the Brooklyn Brewery's logo and put a couple pictures from the tour.This spread is dedicated to my love of One Direction (obviously they couldn't just be included the one time after the concert). Me and my friends saw the movie at midnight and I loved every single second of it. We used the photobooth before the movie started, so I included a copy of the photo strip, the movie ticket, another freckled fawn wood chip speech bubble, and I used the striped page for journaling.My book has broken into September and the arrival of fall, so I included a picture of my first pumpkin spice latte from the first chilly morning this month, and documented the breaking out of the converse from deep in the back of my closet. On the right I included a couple of pictures from my gramma's 85th surprise birthday party.I went down to Virginia to visit my college housemates, so I wanted to include a 4x6 because it was kind of a big deal. Turns out the only pictures we took of ourselves were with the crappy front camera on the iphone, and the best picture I had was of our four Starbucks drinks. I used the black space on the photo to journal in gold (which might get redone depending on how much I decide it bothers me that it doesn't show up that well) and a paper source label to go with the picture of us.The last pages I've finished are from Max's dad's birthday (we made him cupcakes and snuggled on the couch until his parents got home from birthday festivities), and the right side is an envelope filled with pictures of my running shoes that I've been taking on my runs. I closed it with washi tape so it's easy to open and add more later, and I stamped it with Elise's 'I love' stamp. I plan on using the back as a page, and with that included, I only have a few pages left. Then bring in the fall! I'm too ready for it (as usual).