~ little things ~

01. stripes, leather, fur, and red lipstick.

02. picking out an outfit for tomorrow's new year's eve celebrations

03. interesting sights on my walk around the neighborhood

04. hanging up a world map in my room to remind me of how much I have yet to explore 

05. beautiful words from Carson McCuller's The Member of the Wedding

06. a joyous NYE photo from the 1940s

07. if I had to sum up 2013 in one word, it would be exploration.  How I started the year is very different from how I'm ending it.  People departed from my life, people came into my life - some staying longer than others.  I learned lots of valuable lessons, lost battles, found out that someone wasn't who I thought they were, broke down, and then picked myself back up.  I explored my creative side and found out that it's the side I'm most comfortable with. 

 I'm different person.  But change is good.  Here's to another year of lessons, triumphs, new relationships, strong friendships, new opportunities, and an abundant supply of hope.

xoxo,

Eliza

~ day 02 ~

Today after breakfast we literally shopped until we dropped (the dropping part happened in IKEA, but I think that would happen to anyone).

{scooped up these Anthropologie pants for 7 bucks - major score!}



{Anthro has the pretties dresses}






{amazing falafel for lunch}

After lunch we braved the two story IKEA and I fell in love with everything I saw...

{I freaked out when I saw all the fabric!}

Such a fun day!

xoxo,

Eliza

~ on the road ~

This morning we left home to visit family!  It was so nice to be on the road, see the sights (mostly the interstate and other cars), and know that loved ones are at the end of our route.

{stopped on the side of the road to snap this picture}

{found this treasure at a rest stop - sooo beautiful!}

After settling in, we had a wonderful dinner, watched Elf, and told family stories.

{and no, the bowl doesn't really say "ass the popcorn."  It was just poor photography on my end}

I hope you are all having a fantastic day-after-Christmas/Boxing Day!

xoxo,

Eliza

~ merry christmas ~

Merry Christmas to all who celebrate!  I hope everyone is having a wonderful day with friends and family.
Even though Christmas isn't the primary holiday celebrated in my immediate family, it's still nice to be with loved ones, eat good food, and spread holiday cheer.

It's actually cold today in Florida!  Perfect weather for a fur hat and bathing suit...

Happy Holidays!

xoxo,

Eliza

~ mom and pop ~

It's funny how memories can pop into your head from the littlest things.  I can't eat chocolate without thinking of how much my grandfather loved it.  I think of my grandmother when I wear lipstick or curl my hair.

The sound of crinkling tissue paper reminds me of spending Christmas morning with my grandparents, putting the finishing touches on the tree, eating my grandfather's famous oven toast, playing Bing Crosby and Ella Fitzgerald and slow dancing around the living room.

My mom and I shared lots of memories, stories, and laughs when we unpacked the family ornaments.

Decorating the Christmas tree has been a family tradition for as long as I can remember, but one that has been packed away now that my grandparents are both gone.  It was so nice to unpack both the tradition and the ornaments!  I could hear my grandfather's laugh and smell my grandmother's perfume as soon as I opened the cardboard box.  

I can remember my grandmother patiently teaching me and my sister that we had to carefully unwrap each ornament and how to choose the best place on the tree.  She was so loving and kind in everything she did.

I don't know what happened to the tree that they always used, but this year we decorated a pink one from Target!

Mom and Pop, I hope you love the tree.

xoxo,

Eliza

~ merry and bright ~

So far this weekend, I've been to two holiday parties.  One last night (food, drinks, dessert, and all my neighbors) and one this afternoon (cookie baking/decorating, hot tea, and a bunch of my friends).

01. {last night, post-party)

02.

03. {with my beautiful sister}

04. {party outfit #2: F21 top, gap skirt, gap shoes}

05. 

06. (1955 Wamsutta ad}

And remember!  You don't have to have a crowd to have a party - small dance parties are the best, anyway!

xoxo,

Eliza

~ little things ~

01. catching up with Calla, my sweet friend/second sister, who's in town from Hawaii!!  I am so excited that she's here for the holidays, and can't wait to meet her beautiful baby in a few months.

I can't even explain how happy I am to have her be in town!  Growing up with not one, but two sisters was so wonderful.  The biggest heart, a beautiful spirit, a brilliant mind, and the greatest laugh.

02. staying in PJs all day.

{love these JCrew ones}

03. staying up too late reading Carson McCullers bookes

04. making vegan mexican food with my mama

05. some good advice

06. Mrs Meyer's lavender soap.  Whenever I use it, I think of Philadelphia.  I'm not 100% sure, but I think my cousins had it in their apartment in Philly!

xoxo,

Eliza

~ baby it's cold ~

Florida is one of those strange places where it'll be 30 degrees in the morning and 75 by the afternoon.  But when it's cold, it's really cold.  Maybe it's the amount of moisture in the air, but sometimes I swear it feels like walking through an icy cloud.

Thanks to the strange weather, here are some of my least favorite things about December.

• showering - Standing in a hot steamy shower: GOOD.  Getting out of said hot steamy shower: BAD
• dressing - Dressing for snow in the morning, and then for a nice fall day in the afternoon.
• exercising - Hot and sweaty indoors, cold and sweaty outdoors.

But baking cookies, drinking hot tea, snuggling with cats, and bonfires make up for all that.

{target jeans, gap shirt, old navy sweater}

While freezing my butt off, I decided to copy some of my favorite men's styles and this outfit was the finished product!   Now time to go drink some tea, blow dry my hair, and settle down with a good book.

xoxo,
Eliza

~ georgia on my mind ~

Today I took a little day-trip to Thomasville, GA for good food, awesome shopping, and some quality time with my mama.  

{target jeans, thrift shop sweater, old navy cardigan, target hat and purse, and converse all stars}

We went to all our favorite shops, did lots of laughing, and found some vintage treasures!

After spotting three vintage hats (that came home with me), I found a box of letters, telegrams, and photos, all from the same woman: Georgetta Smith.

It was so sad seeing a lifetime of memories crammed into a shoe box.  There were wedding photos, photos of a man in uniform, a group of girls playing tennis, a ship leaving port, wartime letters, and a telegram from France.

It's a good reminder to never get so busy that you overlook the little moments in life.  In the grande scheme of things, the little moments are just as important as the big moments.  And they both end up in the shoe box.

xoxo,

Eliza