Design Post: Bedroom and Living Room for N&M

One of my nearest and dearest asked me to put together a design board for her bedroom a while back because her bedroom was the same as when she was a teenager.  She wanted to feel a bit more grown up and feel like she had her own space.  She loved it so much that she executed it with such finesse!  Now she is moving in with her BF, so she put me up to the task of re-vamping some of what she already had into a new space that suits both their styles... and while I was at it, I did a living room design as well!  They are on a budget because they have to buy stuff for their entire apartment, so we are setting up a time to go thrift and dollar store shopping.  It's amazing what inexpensive finds and spray paint can do for a space!  When things are more settled she can shop for additional items to fill the spaces.  So without further ado, here are her 2 design boards (sorry for the poor quality pic, I don't have the software to convert to jpeg):

Bedroom: The headborad, bedding, and pillows are what she already has.

Livingroom:

Flirty, Thirty, and Fabulous

Well, my 20's have been incredible to me!  Here's a little recap of some important life events from my last decade (not in chronological order or order of importance, obvi :)...

1. Said goodbye to 2 grandparents
2. Said hello to a niece and 2 nephews
3. Studied Abroad in Cambridge, England
4. Travelled to Paris, Florence, York, and London during that time
5. Went back to Florence to ring in 2005
6. Went back to Florence to stand by a bestie for her "I Do's"
7. Graduated college!
8. Moved to New York City (a lifelong dream)
9. Fell in love
10. Moved to New Orleans
11. Got a dog
12. Went to Singapore
13. Got engaged
14. Got married!
15. Went to Paris on our honeymoon
16. Countless trips around the country, including but not limited to: Scottsdale, Yosemite, San Francisco, OC (a million times- I can't stay away from my fam), New York (before and after moving there), St. Louis, Las Vegas, New Orleans (before moving there), Dallas, Houston, Boston, Chicago, Flaaahhhrida (Destin and Pensicola), Napa, San Diego... those are just the ones I remember ;)
17. 3 trips to Chicago to stand by a bestie during her wedding and 2 babies
18. Became a part of a new family, and welcomed those folks into mine
19. Had 2 successful careers
20. Learned that my siblings are truly my best friends and I couldn't imagine life without them, and most importantly, learned that, turns out, MY PARENTS WERE RIGHT!  (Don't tell them I said that)

It's going to be hard to top that!  Here's to another incredible decade!

One Year Down, Forever (and Ever) To Go...

One year ago, I married the man of my dreams.  Here is a speech that I wrote for my wedding day. Josh and I were married on October 6, 2012.  To be honest, I wrote this on the flight to my brother's wedding 2 years before!  Which means we weren't even engaged yet :)  As Joshie would say... "phyyyyccchoooo" lol!  But I really knew after we moved to NOLA together that we were in it for the long haul.  Unfortunately due to the craziness of that day, I didn't have the chance to say the speech.  This is the perfect to finally say it, because I still feel the exact same way!

I'll try not to make this too long... Most of you know how much I can talk!  Today all my dreams come true.  I get to be a bride, a wife, a member of a newly formed family.  I get to say that I have never had a broken heart because I am marrying the first man I fell in love with.

For those of you who don't know our story, I'll give you a quick background.  Josh and I are the product of online dating.  After many free meals for me and expensive dates for Josh we caught each other's attention in a world wide web of millions of people.  Our first date was on December 2, 2009 at Caliente Cab Co in Murray Hill in NYC.  I had forgotten my umbrella (shocking that I was unprepared) but my co-workers were so kind to lend me an umbrella they kept at the store for these emergencies.  I popped open the umbrella, waved goodbye thinking they were giggling because I was going on a match.com date.  I get off the train at 34th St. and make my way East, then I saw my shadow... What is on my umbrella, I thought?  I pulled it down and took a look.  It's a penguin!  A penguin head and penguin wings sticking out of the top of the umbrella!  Well it was too late now.  I have the umbrella in my possession and have to return it the next day... How do I explain this?  Do I say something?  Do I not and hope he doesn't notice?  So I met Josh by walking up to him, saying "Hi, I'm Amy.  Nice to meet you.  My co-workers gave me a penguin umbrella as a joke and I didn't notice until I got off the subway!"  Instead of a dirty look or look of dreading what he got himself into, he shot me a smile and replied, "well, we should give him a name!"

After a date full of conversation and finding things in common he didn't use one curse word, walked me to the subway, and gave me a hug goodnight.  Now, usually this level of respect is not seen on dates... ever.  So you can imagine my confusions.  Now he may say a curse word here of there, but the level of respect I get from him everyday and know i can expect indefinitely is the same he shows on that first date.

Jimmy, the night we all went out after your dad's retirement party you asked me why I love your brother.  After talking your ear off all night I was finally quiet.  That wasn't because I couldn't tell you why, it was merely because I felt I had traumatized you enough with my chatting capabilities.  But I am happy to tell you, and everyone else in this room, that I love your brother because he is respectful, passionate, endearing, honest, loyal, a little OCD at time, hilarious, extremely attractive, smart (he's right more times than I'd like to admit), and one hell of a dancer.

So I'd like to say to all of our guests (who will conveniently forget that I ever mentioned anything about Josh being right) thank you for witnessing this day and making it amazing.  Thank you to everyone who traveled so far to be here.

Thank you to my parents for showing me that love comes easy and relationships don't, but the work involved is what the journey a great one.  More so, thank you for giving me the comfort of support and knowing that my happiness is always a priority to you.

Thank you to my siblings for being my best friends and, while you teased me endlessly, you always make me feel loved and gave me the confident to be myself.  They say you can't choose your family, but if I did, I would choose you.

Thank you to my new family and friends.  I have never been so welcomed by a group of individuals.  I can see from each of you how Josh is so amazing.  Thank you to my bridesmaids for standing by me (and I'm sure in uncomfortable shoes).

And most importantly, my husband.  You are the Drew Brees of relationships.  You rode in on that imaginary pony and danced right into my heart.  I look forward to a lifetime with a heart that will never be broken and dancing legs that will never tire."