Home is where the heart is...

  Watercolor print from Etsy.com

I've lived in the same small town in the same small house for 14 years now. Until recently, I've always referred to my house as my home. Following my Mom's decision to relocate given recent changes, such as my departure to college, I have spent a lot of time contemplating the idea of home and what the context of home really is. 

Only a few days ago, I conveniently stumbled upon a quote in Zen and The Art of Motorcycle Maintenance; "to travel is more important than to arrive." Talk about irony. I then finalized my once indefinite hypothesis regarding home. I sided with the cliche quotes "the journey is our home" and "home is where the heart is" that have rightfully existed for a reason. 

Life is not about the arrival, but the journey. We need to constantly change and adapt to allow ourselves to recognize that the core is never changing, despite alterations in material aspects, such as the roof over our head. 

I will forever be grateful to our tiny colonial house for a lovely backdrop to a majority of my families 14 years of memories thus far, but I am optimistic that leaving our house behind will not mean saying goodbye to home.

"The Journey Begins Here" oil painting from Etsy.com

Six Things to Savor

1. Bold jewelry pieces that make a statement, like this pyrite and chain collar necklace.




2. "Balloons" inspiration board, via Pinterest, a new obsession.




3. 5 fall essentials.




4. City art (I purchased the custom print above for my friends as we depart for college, so we forever remember where we came from.)




5. Phantogram.




6. Stunning Miu Miu Inspired Gold-Glitter Cake.

How Children Describe Love

My sister, Kait, and I find interest in nearly all the same things, most of which are either corny, quirky, witty and/or sentimental. The Things About Love site published a post that is just that- a collection of quotes by young children describing what they believe love is. It may not come as a surprise that I have to thank my sister for showing me the page. It was such a sweet finding that surely proves that children frequently outsmart adults when it comes to understanding sometimes complex aspects of life.

Below are some of my favorite renditions accompanied by a few fitting prints by Etsy artist Shira Sela- I love the youthful innocence and wonders the prints depict! Enjoy!




“When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different.
You just know that your name is safe in their mouth.”

Billy – age 4

“Love is when a girl puts on perfume and a boy puts on shaving cologne and they go out and smell each other.”

Karl – age 5

“Love is what’s in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen.”

Bobby – age 7

“If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend who you hate.”

Nikka – age 6

“When you love somebody, your eyelashes go up and down and little stars come out of you.”

Karen – age 7

Six Things to Savor

1. Irina Werning's "Back to the Future" Photos.

2. Waking Life: a movie everyone should watch and live by.

3. Latest listenings: Summer 2011 essentials.




4. The movie Beginners, which I highly recommend; an honest depiction of human emotion, predicament, love, humor, relationships and life in general.




5. Toilet paper art. Extraordinary.



6. The sweetest protest I've seen: riding bikes while wearing skirts.

Dorm Decor

I stumbled on the cutest Burlington, VT travel guide the other day on designspongeonline.com; exciting!

Following a Dunkin' run with my friend today, I realized that in less than four months, I will be moving into my new home (or lack there of) at UVM. As a result of the both exhilarating and nerve-racking discernment, I decided to begin a cyber search for my dorm decor. Below are some of my findings that I can only hope will fit in my tiny dorm at school (my room at home is teeny itself, so I'm hoping my experience with 10' x 7' spaces will assist me.)

Feminine, Textured, and Nostalgic Bedding
Bedding from Anthropologie, pillows from Urban Outfitters.

Neutral Accessories and Decorative Pieces with Bursts of Bright Color
All items from Etsy.com; either vintage or handmade.

Cliche College Student Stationary and Must-Reads
Products from Fred Flare and Urban Outfitters.

I Dream of Painting and Then I Paint My Dream

Etsy.com is perhaps my most favorite place to shop.

Here are a few new finds I wish I could call my own... (yes, I should be sleeping instead of fantasizing about the possessions I one day hope to have.)

art above by jkiddesign, shirae, greasychickenface, and yellena all on Etsy.com